Guitarist handles concerto with grace
The News Leader, Springfield, MO
January 27, 1997
By: Larry Collins
Mexican composer Manuel Ponce gave easy-listening music a good name with his popular 1941 “Concierto del Sur” for guitar and orchestra. At Saturday’s Springfield Symphony concert, guest artist Jorge Caballero offered a polished account of the subtle and ingratiating work.While his fingering was expert – especially in the brief solo portion of the allegro moderato – Caballero was most impressive in conveying the warmly lyrical and gently probing aspects of the concerto. The lovely, often melancholy melodies for guitar were nicely interwoven with various instruments among the reduced orchestral forces. Conductor Apo Hsu carefully balanced the sound to ensure clarity when the guitar blended with clarinet, flute or billowy strings. The seductive andante was nicely underpinned by a pizzicato pulse in the cellos before the guitar’s flowing melody was gradually taken up by the entire orchestra. Caballero’s effortless fast runs and hypnotic repetitions energized the final movement, without forsaking the understated lilt and subtle colors that dominate the work. For an encore, the 20-year old native of Peru offered an intimate, crowd-pleasing Barcarole by Agustin Barrios that demonstrated the aural appeal of solo guitar in the warm acoustic of Hammons Hall. Back To Reviews |
