June 27, 2007 "Music from Paraguay, plus Giuliani, Rossini"
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In honor and observance of the axiom, "Variety is the Spice of Life", this week's program features a mixed bag of enticing music with guitar, some familiar (Giuliani's Guitar Concerto in A), and some unfamiliar- Napoleon Coste's (1805-1883) ominous "Le Zuyderzee: Ballade, Op. 20", and a brand new recording by Berta Rojas.

The program begins with two pieces by Coste, the seldom-heard and largely unknown Op. 20, followed by a lively Scherzo, performed by John Schneiderman. Regular listeners will notice a fundamental difference in Schneiderman's sound- he doesn't play with fingernails on the right hand, as is the norm with most guitarists today. However, this was more common practice in the 19th Century.

One of Coste's predecessors, Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829) was a luminary of the guitar's first golden age in the early 19th Century. Richard Savino performs Giuliani's Guitar Concerto in A, op. 30 on a period instrument with Portland Baroque Orchestra, directed by Monica Huggett.

The recently-released CD by Paraguayan guitar virtuoso Berta Rojas, "Cielo Abierto" [Open Sky] features music from Latin America, with an emphasis on Paraguayan composers. Juan Manuel Acevedo's "La Jornada" [The Day] is a lush jazz-influenced Paraguayan polka, which depicts a day's work on the cattle farms of Paraguay. The second piece, "Navidad" [Christmas], by Jorge Lobito Martinez, is equally descriptive. One of Paraguay's national treasures, Jorge Lobito Martinez was murdered on January 25, 2003, yet his musical influence continues to grow.

The program concludes with the Montreal Guitar Trio's witty and powerful take on Rossini's Overture to the opera the Barber of Seville.

Public Radio Satellite System uplink:
Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 1300 ET Channel: A68.1

Program ID# 07-D65-00026
Title: Music from Paraguay, plus Giuliani, Rossini
Total length: 58:02

In Cue: MUSIC IN "Hello and welcome to.."
Out Cue: MUSIC IN "...another edition of Classical Guitar Alive!"

INTRODUCTION:

Bizet: Carmen Suite: Prelude
Los Romeros (Philips 412-609)

PROGRAM BEGINS:

Coste: Le Zuyderzee Ballade
John Schneiderman, guitar
Scherzo
(Centaur 2609)

Giuliani: Guitar Concerto in A
RichardSavino guitar
Portland Baroque Orchestra
Monica Huggett, Music Director
(Koch 7591)

Juan Manuel Acevedo: La Jornada
Berta Rojas, guitar

Jorge Lobito Martinez: Navidad
(ON Music 37101-17488)

Rossini: Overture, Barber of Seville
Montreal Guitar Trio
(Banyan 2-006)

CLOSING THEME/FUNDING CREDITS