Andrés Segovia, a celebrated Spanish guitarist, played a pivotal role in the 20th-century revival and conquest that secured the guitar a prominent place in classical music.
Recording & Production
This album is the first CD by the Raffaele Putzolu and Victor Valisena Guitar Duo, and it is a prelude to a larger project to record all of Castelnuovo-Tedesco's works for two guitars.
Historical Context
The 20th century was a period of 'rediscovery and conquest' for the guitar, elevating its status from popular culture to an instrument worthy of its own classical repertoire.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The album features works by Piazzolla, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, and Bettinelli, chosen because they were originally composed for two guitars, highlighting the 'double' and 'specular' sonic possibilities of the duo.
Composer Biography
Despite dedicating significant parts of their output to the guitar, none of the three composers featured on this album—Piazzolla, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, or Bettinelli—were guitarists themselves.
Interpretation
Andrés Segovia often adapted passages written by composers like Castelnuovo-Tedesco to the guitar's possibilities, sometimes rearranging them while preserving the composer's original idea.
Composition History
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Les guitares bien temperées (op. 199), from which selections are performed on this album, was inspired by Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier and dedicated to the famous guitar duo Ida Presti and Alexandre Lagoya.
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