Worcestershire | Archive | 2002 | November | 6
From the archive, first published Wednesday 6th Nov 2002.
Johan Fostier Guitar Recital - Ponce, Asencio, Castelnuovo-Tedesco.
AT last... musicians are beginning to be featured on serious classical recordings and recognised for their talents.
For too long, and all too often, these worker bees are neglected, giving all the attention to the big fat juicy queen of the recording hive... often the conductor, or the composer alone.
But let's not forget that without these musicians the often fiendishly difficult music would never be performed.
Naxos' Laureate Series aims to highlight the award-winning youngsters by giving them a chance to be heard by discerning music-lovers, who will hopefully keep an eye out for these stars of tomorrow on the live concert circuit.
And if Johan Fostier is coming to a venue near you soon I would advise you to book tickets sharpish, for here is a young Belgian man with an indisputable talent for the guitar.
In October 2001, he was awarded first prize at the International Solo Guitar Competition of the Guitar Foundation of America, in California, by a unanimous judging panel - the latest in a string of laureate prizes to his name since 1997.
And M. Fostier is no stranger to the concert platform all over Europe, the US and Canada.
He has worked with soprano Evelyne Bohen in the Almaviva Duo in a guitar duo with Delphine Bertrand and is a member of the Take Four Guitar Quartet.
For this particular recording he has chosen a repertoire which is a little one-dimensional for my tastes, and, I'm sure, does not show off his mastery of the instrument to its full advantage, although Fostier's ability to produce sustained delicate passages oozing with tenderness is highly apparent.
All the pieces by Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Fostier's teacher Ponce, and Asencio are remarkably calming and beautifully interpreted, if a little bland for my tastes.
However, if your CD collection is in need of a tasteful, relaxing aural massage then I would advise making room on your Christmas list. Sit back and listen to those strings sing.
Naxos 8.557039
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