Carter, William - Early Works - Sor, Fernando
'EDITOR'S CHOICE', GRAMOPHONE, May 2010'Blue Moon Award', 6moons.com"Outstanding from beginning to end." 4,5/5 stars (hi-fi+, Richard Foster, 2010)
"Superb." (The Gramophone, William Yeoman, 2010)
"We have become so accustomed to the performance style of modern classical guitarists that this recording comes as a surprise. It is quite possibly the first attempt to recreate an authentic performance by the celebrated guitar virtuoso and composer, Fernando Sor (1778-1839). Immediately it is apparent that William Carter is plucking the strings with the tips of his fingers, not the nails. Sor abhorred the use of nails, preferring instead the sweeter, more intimate colours obtainable without them. Carter has done scholarly service to the study of the early guitar in this fascinating collection of minuets, variations and studies." (The Observer, Stephen Pritchard, 2010)
World-renowned baroque guitarist William Carter presents an appealing collection of early works by Spanish guitar virtuoso and composer Fernando Sor. Sor's guitar music is some of the finest ever written for the instrument and this recording is unique as Carter employs a performance practice endorsed by Sor himself - playing with the finger tips.
Recorded at St Martin's Church, East Woodhay, UK on the 12th - 13th January 2009
Engineered by Philip Hobbs
Post production by Julia at Finesplice
SACD authoring by BK Audio
Front cover from Bridgeman Art: Dance on the Banks of the River Manzanares (1777) by Francisco Jose de Goya y Lucientes, (1746-1828)