Our Talent - Ep.12 Manuel Barrueco

The legendary Manuel Barrueco is internationally recognized as one of the most important guitarists of our time. His unique artistry has been continually described as that of a superb instrumentalist and a superior and elegant musician, possessing a seductive sound and uncommon lyrical gifts.

[@robertoalexandre4250]

What set Barrueco aside in his early recordings was not just his crystal-clear playing: John Williams, Julian Bream, Christopher Parkening, Narciso Yepes, Pepe and Angel Romero (these were the foremost names in the 70s and 80s) also had many recording of very clean playing. Barrueco´s concept of voice separation, his general sound - which was a piano or keyboard sound applied to the guitar - and his sober phrasing, nuancing, coloring made him a unique voice. And I believe, of his generation, the other outstanding guitarrists is David Russell (who prefers a warmer but not quite so focused sound).
Barrueco represents the transition from the liquid sound of Segovia to a more solid, marble sound: certainly less cantabile, but also devoid of the 19th century mannerisms of Segovia. Barrueco made the standards by Granados, Albeniz and Villa-Lobos sound different from previous interpretations. Then his Bach recordings set another standard, at least in guitar interpretations: more historically-informed, contrapuntally-crisp versions. Certainly, J. Williams´ earlier recording of the complete Lute Suites (and even the earlier recordings of Bach cello suites) was a watershed and Barrueco went further down that path (previous recordings of Bach by Bream and Yepes were not wholly satisfactory, but they were the reference at the time after Segovia) I would think J. Williams as an important model for Barrueco´s playing (not just Bach). Today, we have many outstanding versions of Bach, among which Stephan Schmidt (10 string), Goren Solscher (excuse the spelling) and Paul Galbraight, but Barrueco´s first version of the Chaconne will continue to a reference. Bach continues to be very problematical on the guitar, but Barrueco remains among the few convicing guitarrists who can make him happen on an instrument which, as a scholar said, really adds nothing to Bach,.

[@ivanaraque]

So agree, thanks!

[@robertoalexandre4250]

I should add that David Russell, in his Baroque interpretations, has added greatly with his mastery of cross-string trills, something which Barrueco or Williams don´t do. Russell´s ornamentation of Baroque music opened up a whole new world of Bach and Baroque music on the classical guitar.

[@camiloospinavaron7940]

Buenísima entrevista, la introducción deja claro quién es manuel barrueco y lo que ha conseguido….

[@curaticac5391]

The young Barrueco who could play Albeniz superbly, butchering the Bach prelude -- unbelievable!

[@mancholeon1823]

That was then.........NOW hmmmmmm questionable.

[@evaristolucas7367]

He already can