Search - Steve Hackett :: Midsummer Night's Dream

My favorite classical work by a "rock" musician

Stuart M. Paine | Arlington, VA USA | 06/13/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM for guitar with orchestra is not a concerto. I'd call it a ballet. It would be easy to imagine this lengthy suite being danced. I hear a mix of influences: a lot of mid-nineteenth century classical guitar music; Segovia repertoire such as Ponce, Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Villa-Lobos; impressionistic Genesis and some Bach. Given Steve's extraordinary melodic gift, the result is magical.



I'm surprised but not shocked by Hackett's proficiency with the classical guitar. His tone is warm and pleasing - a short nail sound. He doesn't yank at the strings as might be expected. His rhythm is sure, scales quick, voices clearly articulated, tremeloes fast and even, harmonics bright and... wow, what a vibrato! Only the arpeggios are uneven although most are very good.



There are 18 segments/tracks to this "ballet". Tracks 3-7, 10, and 18 are guitar solo. Tracks 1, 2, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 14-17 are Steve with the orchestra. In track 17, "Celebration", all are joined by a pipe organ. Only track 13, "Mountains Turned into Clouds", is exclusively orchestra. ALL of these segments are admirable composition beautifully and sensitively performed. My own favorite segment is track 15, "Starlight", which sounds like Humperdinck (the REAL one) meshed with Bach. It's such a sweet romantic melody, I could believe Christopher Parkening would enjoy playing it. Track 3, "By Paved Fountain" is a lovely tremelo piece. "Celebration" is wonderful, too and Steve's accompaniment reminds me of that in the Giuliani 1st Guitar Concerto.



I should say I'm usually unimpressed by rock guitarists' attempts at classical guitar, but Steve Hackett is not a rock guitarist; he's a guitarist... and a great musician.

"

Steve Hackett demonstrates why he is the man

Stuart M. Paine | 05/18/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the most phenomenal classical albums I've ever heard. I never tire of it, particularly tracks 12+, which take on a profound, contemplative tone. I recommend this to anyone who appreciates excellence in songwriting."

Hackett's true colors

E. Minkovitch | Montreal, Quebec | 06/10/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The extent of Steve Hackett's virtuosity on classical guitar is breathtaking, as well as his grasp of composition for the instrument. Arguably he is the most talented x-member of Genesis, it is no wonder that he was frustrated in the band. This music has the structure of a suite, with themes running through the entire work, and is the blend between the orchestra and the solo instrument is very well achieved. Steve made several other classical recordings, but this one seems to be his most glowing piece of work. A real delight!"