© 2024 Texas Public Radio
Real. Reliable. Texas Public Radio.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
The KPAC Blog features classical music news, reviews, and analysis from South Texas and around the world.

Dynamic Duo Brings Spanish Flair To New Release

The latest release from AugustinHadelich and Pablo SainzVillegas is hot! "Histoire du Tango" is filled with passion, flair, and a lot of notes - featuring music from Astor Piazzolla, Manuel de Falla, Nicolo Paganini, and Pablo de Sarasate.

"A mutual friend in New York introduced us, and we played at an Embassy," says guitarist Pablo Sainz Villegas. "It was so much fun, and we understood each other musically." So Villegas and Hadelich decided to record some of the works they played that night.

The disc is filled with gorgeous melodies and lush harmonies, two things that the duo bring out in precise details. Great phrasing of lines by Augustin is matched by consummate articulations by Pablo, who takes on a brilliant orchestral pallette in the final selection, "Gypsy Airs."

In Paganini's "Sonata Concertata" the music sounds sweet and innocent, a side of the composer we don't often hear, almost Schubertian in character. (A download only version of Paganini's "Cantabile" is equally satisfying if a little more virtuoso!) The real fire and collaboration comes in the "Moses Fantasy" - each player taking great care to smile and bring out the music.

The "Seven Popular Spanish Songs" are a real delight as well, especially touching is the calm and sumptous "Nana."

Take a listen yourself on the Spotify link below. We love this new cd!

John Clare is comfortable behind a microphone, streaming video or playing violin. A former broadcaster for NPR, John has previously worked with Voice of America, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation and stations in Kansas, Nevada, California, and Pennsylvania.