Musical Opinion, review.
A Corda – Birgitta Staernes, violin and Martin Haug, guitar – Playera
Music by Piazzolla, Sarasate, Albeniz, Pujol, Granados, and traditional – 13 tracks
MTG CD 88266 [55:06]
Here is a not dissimilar CD to the Tango! disc reviewed here too, and – curiously – only a few seconds separates the playing-times of these two records. There are no duplications in terms of repertoire, and the first thing that strikes the listener on this MTG issue is the really beautiful playing of these two very well-matched Norwegian musicians. Quite apart from anything else, the music has been excellently chosen from a wider range of Latin-American and Iberian composers, and the arrangements are unfailingly interesting and inherently beautiful. I also liked the recorded balance very much indeed – there is a natural, effortless flow to the music-making of these two musicians which is immediately and consistently appealing. The arrangement of Albeniz’ Cordoba is simply superb and is quite haunting. This is thoroughly recommended.
Robert Matthew-Walker