Manuel Barrueco (guitar)
Complete Recordings on Warner Classics
rec. 1987–1998
Warner Classics 5419714627 [11 CDs: 645]
Born in 1952 in Santiago de Cuba, Manuel Barrueco began his musical training at the age of eight in his home city. Some years later his family moved to the US, where he continued his studies, and before long he could embark on an international career, which still continues. He has received several awards, and in 1974, at the age of 22, he became the first classical guitarist to receive the Concert Artists Guild Award. His recording career also started early, and between 1987 and 1998 he recorded 11 albums for EMI (today Warner Classics), which here are collected in one box, which is a goldmine for guitar aficionados. I have intentionally spread out the listening seances over a period of two months in order to digest the music in small portions, and I am not going to indulge in detailed analyses of all the 172 individual pieces, but rather give an overview of the contents and point to some tracks of particular interest.
The first disc is devoted to Spanish music from the 20th century. The four dances from Manuel de Falla’s The Three-cornered Hat are well-known and often heard in orchestral concerts. Here, arranged for guitar by Barrueco, they become a glittering overture to the whole box, rhythmically alert and stimulating. Manuel Ponce’s three-movement Guitar Sonata No. 6, subtitled Sonatina meridional, may not be too well-known but should definitely be incorporated in the standard repertoire. The first movement is lively dancing and highly virtuoso, with the short Andante as a resting point before the even shorter Fiesta brings the work to jubilant end. Rodrigo’s Invocación y danza begins in darkness and mystery while the danza is light, with a lot of tremolo. It was written as an homage to de Falla and is followed by de Falla’s only original composition for guitar, Omaggio per chitarra, written in 1920 as an homage to Debussy. Rodrigo’s three Spanish pieces are delicious and actually great fun.
Disc 2 could be titled “Sor meets Mozart”. In reality they never actually met, even though the child prodigy, born in 1778, could theoretically could have met the master. But he was obviously fascinated by Wolfgang Amadeus and wrote both six pieces from Die Zauberflöte and Variations on a theme by Mozart. The theme in question is from the end of the first act of Die Zauberflöte where the slaves of Sarastro sing Das klinget so herrlich, enchanted by Papageno’s Glockenspiel. It is also one of the six melodies in the Zauberflöte potpourri. In both cases this is delicious music, and it inspired Barrueco to transcribe movements from a couple of piano sonatas by Mozart. Barrueco plays, whether the music is by Sor or Mozart, with such lightness that one believes that playing the guitar is just a children’s game.
On disc 3 the greatest Brazilian composer, Heitor Villa-Lobos, is featured together with two of Barrueco’s Cuban compatriots. Villa-Lobos compositional output is enormous – if somewhat uneven – but his writing for guitar is limited. 5 preludes for guitar, W 419 from 1940 is his masterwork in this genre and it is in the repertoire of many guitarists worldwide. Arguably the greatest living guitar composer is Leo Brouwer (b. 1939) and here Barrueco has chosen early compositionsfrom the 1950s and -60s. Some of it is on the atonal side – but he is always interesting. Julián Orbón (1925 – 1991) was born in Spain but moved with his family to Havana in 1938. He was not a guitarist and composed little for the instrument. Preludio y danza was composed in the early 1950s.
On CD 4 French and German baroque rub shoulders. Little is known about Robert de Visée’s background, but he was lutenist, guitarist, theorbist and viol player at the court of the kings Louis XIV and XV and also singer and composer. His suite No. 11 in B minor for guitar was published in 1986 and is typical for the baroque suites with a prelude and four dance movements. Johann Sebastian Bach’s life and career are all the more well researched and documented. Obviously he played the lute, and the Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E-flat major BWV 998 was somewhere between 1735 and 1745. Partita No. 2 in D minor for solo violin is one of his most famous works, in particular the concluding Chaconne, which has attracted many guitarists to transcribe it for their instrument. Andrés Segovia’s transcription is legendary. I have not compared his and Barrueco’s versions side by side, and no one need to do so – they are fully worthy of standing on their own.
Joaquin Turina was influenced by Andalusian folksongs, which permeates much of his music. He didn’t write very much for guitar. In fact, his whole oeuvre is recorded on disc 5. Isaac Albeniz, who shares this disc with Turina, wrote even less – indeed, nothing at all but his music is often played by guitarists – in transcriptions. Here Manuel Barrueca has arranged the complete Suite Española, Op. 47, originally for piano – and certainly it sounds as if the music was conceived for the guitar in the first place.
More Spanish music follows on CD 6. First Manuel de Falla’s 7 Canciones populares españolas, arranged for voice and guitar by Miguel Llobet and Manuel Barrueco. The choice of singer is congenial. With only guitar, instead of the original piano, there is no need to engage a flamenco singer with deep chest-tones and flashing eyes. Baroque specialist Ann Monoyios’s concept is quite the opposite: intimacy, restraint and lightness. But there is still temperament and a sense of folksiness, and in the concluding Polo there is no lack of intensity. The rest of the well-filled disc is occupied by another central piano suite, Granados’ 12 Danzas españolas, arranged for guitars by Barrueco and Thomas Müller-Pering. The second guitar appears in five of the 12 dances, expertly played by Müller-Pering.
Disc 7 is the one that leaves me in two minds. I have always loved Lennon-McCartney’s songs but preferred various “covers” before the original, Beatles recordings. Here, though, I was disappointed by the arrangements, though they were written true professionals: Leo Brouwer, John Bayless and adapted by Barrueco, Toru Takemitsu and Jeremy Lubbock, the latter responsible for the last two tracks, You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away and The Long and Winding Road, which are performed with the London Symphony Orchestra – as are the first three as well: Eleanor Rigby; Here, There and Everywhere and Ticket to Ride. The performances are good, and there is nothing wrong with the arrangements per se, but they are too extravagant which in a way, drowns the beauty of the melodies. Göran Söllscher, who recorded two Beatles albums for Deutsche Grammophon, let the songs speak without unnecessary gingerbread work. This is a matter of personal taste, of course, and others may be fully satisfied with these versions.
On CD 8 Barrueco returns to Bach and the three sonatas BWV 1001, 1003 and 1005. Impeccable playing and these are always a pleasure to listen to, whether in the original version for solo violin or in these tasteful transcriptions.
CD 9 is entirely devoted to Joaquin Rodrigo. The inescapable Concierto de Aranjuez is of course here, and the reading is among the best. We are also treated to the less frequently heard but just as enjoyable Fantasia para un gentilhombre. The Philharmonia Orchestra play stylishly under the direction of Plácido Domingo who in between the two concertos puts aside the baton and sings some of Rodrigo’s songs, accompanied by Barrueco.
The penultimate disc in the box is titled Cantos y Danzas and is a mix of largely well-known masterpieces by masters like Barrios Mangoré, Ponce and Antonio Lauro, a traditional Peruvian dance, arranged by Leo Brouwer and pieces by Gnattali and Grenet. To this can be added two guest appearances: Barbara Hendricks in the Aria from Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas brasileiras No. 5 and French flautist Emmanuel Pahud in Piazzolla’s suite Histoire du Tango. It should be fine bait for prospective buyers who haven’t yet made up their mind.
A logical title for the final disc is ¡Cuba! Here, Manuel Barrueco has collected composers from his homeland – several of them fairly unknown to a wider European public. Ernesto Lecuona’s name is of course still remembered through the popular orchestra Lecuona Cuban Boys, which he founded in the 1930s and which toured the world for 40 years, even though he didn’t actually play with them, but many of his more than 600 melodies are still played and Manuel Barrueco has arranged three of them for this issue. I have mentioned Leo Brouwer several times in this review, but Carlos Fariñas, Enrique Ubieta, Héctor Angulo and José Ardévol are also worth some attention.
With 172 tracks and a total playing time of close to 11 hours this box is, as I wrote in the beginning, a goldmine for guitar afficionados – and general music lovers as well – and the excellence of the playing can be taken for granted.
Göran Forsling
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Contents
Disc: 1
Manuel de Falla:
1 El Sombrero de Tres Picos: Mediodia (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
2 El Sombrero de Tres Picos: Danza Del Molinero. Farruca (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
3 El Sombrero de Tres Picos: Danza Del Corregidor (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
4 El Sombrero de Tres Picos: Danza de la Molinera (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
Manuel Maria Ponce:
5 Sonatina Meridional (Guitar Sonata No. 6) in D Major: I. Campo (Allegretto)
6 Sonatina Meridional (Guitar Sonata No. 6) in D Major: II. Copla (Andante)
7 Sonatina Meridional (Guitar Sonata No. 6) in D Major: III. Fiesta (Allegro Con Brio)
Joaquin Rodrigo:
8 Invocación y Danza
De Falla:
9 Homenaje “Pour Le Tombeau de Claude Debussy”
Rodrigo:
10 3 Piezas Españolas: I. Fandango
11 3 Piezas Españolas: II. Passacaglia
12 3 Piezas Españolas: III. Zapateado
Disc: 2
Fernando Sor:
1 Grand Solo in D Major, Op. 14
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:
2 Piano Sonata No. 5 in G Major, K. 283: I. Allegro (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
3 Piano Sonata No. 5 in G Major, K. 283: II. Andante (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
4 Piano Sonata No. 5 in G Major, K. 283: III. Presto (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
5 6 Airs Choisis de L’opéra Il Flauto Magico, Op. 19: I. Marche Religieuse
6 Airs Choisis de L’opéra Il Flauto Magico, Op. 19: II. Fuggite O Voi Bella Fallace
7 6 Airs Choisis de L’opéra Il Flauto Magico, Op. 19: III. Giù Fan Ritorno
8 6 Airs Choisis de L’opéra Il Flauto Magico, Op. 19: IV. O Dolce Armonia
9 6 Airs Choisis de L’opéra Il Flauto Magico, Op. 19: V. Se Potesse Un Suono
10 6 Airs Choisis de L’opéra Il Flauto Magico, Op. 19: VI. Grand Isi Grand’ Osiri
Fernando Sor:
11 Introduction and Variations on a Theme of Mozart in E Major, Op. 9: Introduction (Andante)
12 Introduction and Variations on a Theme of Mozart in E Major, Op. 9: Tema (Andantino)
13 Introduction and Variations on a Theme of Mozart in E Major, Op. 9: Variation I
14 Introduction and Variations on a Theme of Mozart in E Major, Op. 9: Variation II
15 Introduction and Variations on a Theme of Mozart in E Major, Op. 9: Variation III (Minore)
16 Introduction and Variations on a Theme of Mozart in E Major, Op. 9: Variation IV (Majore)
17 Introduction and Variations on a Theme of Mozart in E Major, Op. 9: Variation V
Mozart:
18 Piano Sonata No. 18 in D Major, K. 576: II. Adagio (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
Disc: 3
Heitor Villa-Lobos:
1 5 Preludes, w 419: No. 1 in E minor (Andantino Espressivo)
2 Preludes NR.1-5 · für Gitarre Solo: No.2: E-Dur (Andantino)
3 Preludes NR.1-5 · für Gitarre Solo: No.3: A-Moll (Andante)
4 Preludes NR.1-5 · für Gitarre Solo: No.4: E-Moll (Lento)
5 Preludes NR.1-5 · für Gitarre Solo: No.5: D-Dur (Animato)
6 Choros No. 1 for Guitar, w 161 “Choro Tipico”
Leo Brouwer:
7 Danza Caracteristica · FÜR Gitarre Solo
8 Canticum Para Guitarra · FÜR Gitarre Solo: I. Eclosión
9 Canticum Para Guitarra · FÜR Gitarre Solo: II. Ditirambo
10 Canción de Cuna (Berceuse)
11 Elogio de la Danza · FÜR Gitarre Solo: I. Lento
12 Elogio de la Danza · FÜR Gitarre Solo: II. Obstinato
13 Ojos Brujos (Les Yeux Sorciers) · FÜR Gitarre Solo
14 Guajira Criolla · FÜR Gitarre Solo
Julián Orbón:
15 Preludio y Danza · FÜR Gitarre Solo: I. Preludio
16 Preludio y Danza · FÜR Gitarre Solo: II. Danza
Disc: 4
Robert de Visée:
1 Ouverture de la Grotte de Versailles (De Lully)
2 Suite NR.11 H-Moll: Prelude
3 Suite NR.11 H-Moll: Allemande
4 Suite NR.11 H-Moll: Sarabande
5 Suite NR.11 H-Moll: Gigue
6 Suite NR.11 H-Moll: Passacaille
Johann Sebastian Bach:
7 Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E-Flat Major, BWV 998: Prelude
8 Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E-Flat Major, BWV 998: Fugue
9 Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E-Flat Major, BWV 998: Allegro
10 Partita for Solo Violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: I. Allemande (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
11 Partita for Solo Violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: II. Courante (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
12 Partita for Solo Violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: III. Sarabande (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
13 Partita for Solo Violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: IV. Gigue (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
14 Partita for Solo Violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: V. Chaconne (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
Disc: 5
Isaac Albéniz:
1 Suite Española No. 1, Op. 47: VI. Aragón (Fantasia). Allegro (Arr. Manuel Barrueco)
2 Suite Española No. 1, Op. 47: VIII. Cuba (Notturno). Allegretto (Arr. Manuel Barrueco)
3 Suite Española No. 1, Op. 47: IV. Cadíz (Saeta). Allegretto Ma Non Troppo (Arr. Manuel Barrueco)
4 Suite Española No. 1, Op. 47: V. Asturias (Leyenda). Allegro (Arr. Manuel Barrueco)
5 Suite Española No. 1, Op. 47: VII. Castilla (Seguidillas). Allegro (Arr. Manuel Barrueco)
6 Suite Española No. 1, Op. 47: I. Granada (Serenata). Allegretto (Arr. Manuel Barrueco)
7 Suite Española No. 1, Op. 47: II. Cataluña (Curranda). Allegro (Arr. Manuel Barrueco)
8 Suite Española No. 1, Op. 47: III. Sevilla (Sevillanas). Allegro (Arr. Manuel Barrueco)
Joaquín Turina:
9 Fandanquillo, Op. 36: (Allegretto Tranquillo)
10 Sevillana (Fantasia), Op. 29: (Allegro Moderato – Allegretto – Allegro)
11 Ráfaga, Op. 53: (Andante – Allegro Vivo – Allegro Molto – Allegro Vivo)
12 Homenaje a Tárrega, Op. 69: I. Garrotin (Allegretto)
13 Homenaje a Tárrega, Op. 69: II. Soleares (Allegro Vivo)
14 Sonata for Guitar, Op. 61: I. (Without Indication) – Allegro – Allegro Tranquillo – Allegro – Lento – Allegro
15 Sonata for Guitar, Op. 61: II. Andante
16 Sonata for Guitar, Op. 61: III. Allegro Vivo – Allegro Moderato
Disc: 6
Manuel de Falla:
1 7 Canciones Populares Españolas: No. 1, El Paño Moruno (Arr. Llobet & Barrueco for Voice and Guitar)
2 7 Canciones Populares Españolas: No. 2, Seguidilla Murciana (Arr. Llobet & Barrueco for Voice and Guitar)
3 7 Canciones Populares Españolas: No. 3, Asturiana (Arr. Llobet & Barrueco for Voice and Guitar)
4 7 Canciones Populares Españolas: No. 4, Jota (Arr. Llobet & Barrueco for Voice and Guitar)
5 7 Canciones Populares Españolas: No. 5, Nana (Arr. Llobet & Barrueco for Voice and Guitar)
6 7 Canciones Populares Españolas: No. 6, Canción (Arr. Llobet & Barrueco for Voice and Guitar)
7 Canciones Populares Españolas: No. 7, Polo (Arr. Llobet & Barrueco for Voice and Guitar)
Eneique Granados:
8 12 Danzas Españolas: No. 1, Galante
9 12 Danzas Españolas: No. 2, Oriental (Arr. Barrueco & Müller-Pering for Two Guitars)
10 12 Danzas Españolas: No. 3, Fandango
11 12 Danzas Españolas: No. 4, Villanesca
12 Danzas Españolas: No. 5, Andaluza
13 12 Danzas Españolas: No. 6, Rondalla Aragonesa (Arr. Barrueco & Müller-Pering for Two Guitars)
14 12 Danzas Españolas: No. 7, Valenciana
15 12 Danzas Españolas: No. 8, Sardana (Arr. Barrueco & Müller-Pering for Two Guitars)
16 12 Danzas Españolas: No. 9, Mazurka Romántica (Arr. Barrueco & Müller-Pering for Two Guitars)
17 12 Danzas Españolas: No. 10, Melancólica
18 12 Danzas Españolas: No. 11, Zambra (Arr. Barrueco & Müller-Pering for Two Guitars)
19 12 Danzas Españolas: No. 12, Arabesca
Disc: 7
John Lennon & Paul McCartney:
1 Eleanor Rigby (Arr. Brouwer)
2 Here, There and Everywhere (Arr. Brouwer)
3 Ticket to Ride (Arr. Brouwer)
4 The Fool on the Hill (Arr. Brouwer)
5 She’s Leaving Home (Arr. Brouwer)
6 Penny Lane (Arr. Brouwer)
7 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (Arr. Bayless & Barrueco)
8 A Hard Day’s Night (Arr. Bayless & Barrueco)
9 Michelle (Arr. Takemitsu)
10 Hey Jude (Arr. Takemitsu)
11 Yesterday (Arr. Takemitsu)
12 You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away (Arr. Lubbock)
13 The Long and Winding Road (Arr. Lubbock)
Disc: 8
Johann Sebastian Bach:
1 Sonata for Solo Violin No. 2 in a Minor, BWV 1003: I. Grave (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
2 Sonata for Solo Violin No. 2 in a Minor, BWV 1003: II. Fuga (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
3 Sonata for Solo Violin No. 2 in a Minor, BWV 1003: III. Andante (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
4 Sonata for Solo Violin No. 2 in a Minor, BWV 1003: IV. Allegro (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
5 Sonata for Solo Violin No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005: I. Adagio (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
6 Sonata for Solo Violin No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005: II. Fuga (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
7 Sonata for Solo Violin No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005: III. Largo (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
8 Sonata for Solo Violin No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005: IV. Allegro Assai (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
9 Sonata for Solo Violin No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: I. Adagio (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
10 Sonata for Solo Violin No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: II. Fuga. Allegro (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
11 Sonata for Solo Violin No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: III. Siciliana (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
12 Sonata for Solo Violin No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: IV. Presto (Arr. Barrueco for Guitar)
Disc: 9
Joaquín Rodrigo:
1 Concierto de Aranjuez: Allegro Con Spirito
2 Concierto de Aranjuez: Adagio
3 Concierto de Aranjuez: Allegro Gentile
4 3 Villancicos: II. Coplillas de Belen
5 Pastorcito Santo
6 Un Tiempo Fue Italica Famosa
7 Adela
8 Coplas Del Pastor Enamorado: “Verdes Riberas Amenas”
9 Zarabanda Lejana
10 Fantasía Para Un Gentilhombre: I. Adagietto – Andante (Villano y Ricercare)
11 Fantasía Para Un Gentilhombre: II. Adagio (Españoleta y Fanfare de la Caballeria de Nápoles)
12 Fantasía Para Un Gentilhombre: III. Allegro Con Brio (Danza de Las Hachas)
13 Fantasía Para Un Gentilhombre: IV. Allegro Ma Non Troppo (Canario)
Disc: 10
Trad. Arr. Leo Brouwer
1 Danza Del Altiplano (Peruvian Dance)
Agustín Barrios Mangoré:
2 Cueca: Danza Chilena
3 Danza Paraguaya
4 Una Limosna Por El Amor de Dios
Manuel Maria Ponce:
5 Estrellita
6 Scherzino Mexicano
Agustín Barrios Mangoré:
7 La Catedral: I. Preludio Saudade
8 La Catedral: II. Andante Religioso
9 La Catedral: III. Allegro Solemne
Heitor Villa-Lobos:
10 Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5, w. 391: I. Aria (Cantilena)
Randamés Gnattali:
11 Dansa Brasileira
Eliseo Grenet:
12 Drume Negrita (Cuban Popular Song)
Antonio Lauro:
13 Criollo (Venezuelan Waltz)
Astor Piazzolla:
14 Concierto Del Ángel: III. La Muerte Del Ángel (Arr. Brouwer)
15 Histoire Du Tango: I. Bordel 1900
16 Histoire Du Tango: II. Cafe 1930
17 Histoire Du Tango: III. Night-Club 1960
18 Histoire Du Tango: IV. Concert D’aujourd’hui 1990
Disc: 11
Ernesto Lecuona:
1 Afro Cuban Dances: La Comparsa (Arr. for Guitar by M. Barrueco)
2 Afro Cuban Dances: Danza Lucumi (Arr. for Guitar by M. Barrueco)
3 Cuban Dances: A la Antigua (Arr. for Guitar by M. Barrueco)
Leo Brouwer:
4 Suite No. 2: Preludio
Carlos Fariñas:
5 Canción Triste
6 Preludio
Enrique Ubieta:
7 New York Rush (Theme from ‘El Super’) [Arr. for Guitar by E. Ubieta]
Héctor Angulo:
8 Cantos Yoruba de Cuba: I. Asokere I
9 Cantos Yoruba de Cuba: II. Suayo
10 Cantos Yoruba de Cuba: III. Iyá Mi Ile
11 Cantos Yoruba de Cuba: IV. Borotití
12 Cantos Yoruba de Cuba: V. Asokere II
13 Cantos Yoruba de Cuba: VI. Iyá Mo Dupe
14 Cantos Yoruba de Cuba: VII. Yeye Bi Obi Tosuo
15 Cantos Yoruba de Cuba: VIII. E Lekua
16 Cantos Yoruba de Cuba: IX. Asokere III
José Ardévol:
17 Sonata for Guitar: I. Preludio
18 Sonata for Guitar: II. Variaciones
19 Sonata for Guitar: III. Danza
Leo Brouwer:
20 Rito de los Orishas: I. Exordium-Conjuro
21 Rito de los Orishas: II. Danza de Las Diosas Negras (Danza I, Danza II, Evocacion I, Evocacion II, Danza III)
Other performers
Ann Monoyis (soprano), Thomas Müller-Pering (guitar) (CD 6)
David Tannenbaum (guitar) London Symphony Orchestra / Jeremy Lubbock (CD 7)
Philharmonia Orchestra / Placido Domingo (tenor) (CD 9)
Barbara Hendricks (soprano) Emmanuel Pahud (flute) (CD 10)
