Alma Guitarra Vol. 2 – Marco Del Greco

This Da Vinci Classics album offers a valuable insight into the guitar repertoire, sound and practices of the early twentieth century. Those years were defined as the “edad de Plata”, the “silver era”, just one step below the mythical “Siglo de Oro”. At that time and place, composers such as those represented here were active, and cooperated with performers of the standing of Andrés Segovia or Emilio Pujol, as well as with internationally acclaimed luthiers. This album presents works by Eduardo López-Chavarri, whose manifold talent encompassed several fields of culture and specifically of musical culture; his 7 Piezas are unjustly forgotten and recorded here in world premiere. Joan Manén’s Fantasia Sonata, by way of contrast, was championed tirelessly by Segovia and recorded by him; still, the version recorded here is new, and it derives from the integration of ideas found in the composer’s own orchestration of the piece with the traditional text. Carlos Pedrell’s Danzas de las tres princesas cautivas are his most important composition for the guitar, and evoke enchanted atmospheres highlighting Spain’s unique cultural and religious heritage.