Search - Ferdinando Carulli, Janos Rolla, Budapest Liszt Ferenc Chamber Orchestra :: Carulli: Music For Flute & Guitar

Carulli, the Master of Sweetness!

Vera Kolb | Kenosha, WI | 02/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One just has to love Ferdinando Carulli. My love affair with his music started when I learned to play guitar as a teenager, on my own, from his "Guitar Method". The story that I have heard is that Carulli wrote his "Guitar Method" for a pretty student of his, who, however, was short on talent. He thus made even the simplest exercise sound very melodic, romantic, and sweet.

I have several recordings of Carulli's music, all of which I adore, but this one is quite unique, since it portrays flute. Carulli conveys "Italianate lyricism, mixed with joie de vivre and tendresse", in the words of the author of the booklet, which comes with the CD.

Jean-Pierre Rampal's flute is appropriately sweet, romantic, very lyric, but also playful. Alexandre Lagoya, guitar, is delicate, tender and gentle. As the record plays on, I imagine that I am strolling down some street in Italy and I begin to whistle along with the flute.

The selections on this CD are: "Concerto for flute, guitar and orchestra" in G Major, with Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, "Duo for flute and guitar", Op. 104, No. 1, in D Major, and No. 3, in C Major, "Fantasy for Flute and Guitar", Op. 337, on themes from Bellini's "Il pirata" (this is where one wants to whistle), and "Nocturne for flute and Guitar", Op. 190, in A Major.

You cannot go wrong with this most charming record!

I dedicate this review to my brother Vladimir, who is responsible for my introduction to guitar. As a teenager he traded an old bicycle chain for the guitar method, which he then gave to me. This is how it all started. Thank you, Vladimir!

"

Whine snobs beware!

BGroovy2 | Tidewater Va. | 03/19/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have heard for so many years that the guitar is not a true classical instrument worthy of of a place in the symphony. Here you have a masterful recording from a composer that was a contemporary of Beethoven. It trully rivals anything I have heard form that period! I have been a Carulli fan ever since I started studying classical guitar. I love either playing or listening to his works. With nearly four hundred opus numbers, he has something to offer even the most discriminating classical music lover. This particular recording has a nice mix of concertos and duets for guitar and flute that seem to be the perfect combination for music that soars along. If you are looking for something classical that is a little different, look no further. This is some of the finest that the Romantic era has to offer!"

Transporting...

tinkerbell | new york, NY | 06/22/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The flute and guitar combination is one of the most seductive. The sound is beautiful and appealing in every way. I highly recommend this CD. If you are a fan of flute and guitar, be sure to get Mauro Guiliano's flute and guitar compositions. I have his complete works for flute and guitar and it was in hopes of acquiring more of this heavenly music that I bought this CD. I was not disappointed."