Spanish composer and guitarist Francisco Tarrega liked a good opera tune as much as anyone, and Giuseppe Verdi really knew how to provide them in his popular operas. On the next Fretworks, Greek guitarist Michalis Kontaxakis— winner of the First Prize in the 2005 International Francisco Tarrega Guitar Competition —will play Tarrega's Fantasy on Themes from La Traviata.
We'll also hear the Guitar Concerto No. 2 by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. Because of his Jewish background, this fine Italian-born composer had to leave Italy in the 1930's when Mussolini and the fascists came to power. Settling in Southern California, Castelnuovo-Tedesco wrote film scores for Hollywood and concert works, including three guitar concertos.
While the First Guitar Concerto of 1939, written for Andres Segovia, remains his most popular, the Second Concerto from 1953 is a larger, more ambitious work. I'll have a recording with Japanese guitarist Kazuhito Yamashita and the London Philharmonic with Leonard Slatkin conducting.
Also on the program: Uruguayan guitarist Eduardo Fernadewz will play a set of Catalan Folk Songs, and Oleg Timefeyev and John Schneiderman will play authentic instruments of the early 19th century for Souvenir of Russia by Fernando Sor from the CD, "The Czar's Guitars."
Join me for music of the classical guitar on Fretworks Saturday at 7 pm and Wednesday at 7 on Classical 101.