"Marco Tamayo is a splendid guitarist. I have his Guitar Music of Cuba album, which I enjoy as well as this Paganini CD. The music here is altogether winning. Tamayo plays the Grand Sonata with elegance and fluid technique. It's the sort of work that benefits from a performer who can match sensitivity with grandeur, and Tamayo has that knack. Most of the shorter works on this CD are salon music of varying types. They require a sense of style more than spellbinding finger work, and in Tamayo's hands they pass very sweetly. The last two Caprices, from the famous set for the violin, are finger breakers on the guitar. Listening to Tamayo, you wonder how it is possible for anyone to play them on the guitar, let alone this well. The sound engineering is good, too. All in all, a welcome CD of often unusual repertoire that deserves a hearing."
Whew!
Robert D. Buzzell | San Diego, CA | 05/13/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Paganini lovers are going to like this one. Great selections and the playing is outstanding. Great price also.
Paganini wrote some of the most intricately difficult music ever. Tamayo captures it remarkably. The music is not just difficult for difficult sake -it has an emotional force that is clearly one of a kind. Bravo!
"
Complete correct track listing
Barb | 12/02/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Amazon's track listing is incomplete and inaccurate. This CD has 15 tracks:
Grand Sonata in A major
1. Allegro risoluto
2. Romanze
3. Andantino variato
Sonata No. 4 in D major
4. Minuetto - Rondoncino
Ghiribizzi
5. No. 15: Allegro
6. No. 16: In cor piu non mi sento: Larghetto
7. No. 37: Adagietto
8. No. 38: Vivace
9. No. 22: Larghetto
Sonata No. 30 in A major
10. Minuetto - Allegro
Sonata No. 6 in F major
11. Minuetto - Allegretto
Sonata No. 14 in F major
12. Minuetto - Valtz (Allegretto)
Three Caprices (originally for solo violin)
13. Caprice No. 11
14. Caprice No. 5
15. Caprice No. 24
"
Tamayo's Soul
Colton Williams | Oklahoma City, OK | 11/27/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Marco Tamayo plays these beautiful Paganini guitar works with such grace and moving deftness. I cannot seem to get tired of this record. Certain tracks, even after months of repeated listening, seem to yank tears out of my eyes. Tamayo's brilliant phrasing and crystal understanding of these works provide me constant pleasure, whether I'm relaxing on my lunch break at work or following along with him on the scores at home. Simply, utterly, inspiring. It is a pleasure to write these words about what I consider to be lovely playing. Soulful. It makes me smile to think of Tamayo and Norbert Kraft (the producer; also a brilliant player) recording these works. I hope they were as satisfied as i continue to be."