Morgan Szymanski / Machaca - Mano A Mano

'Machaca’ is an international ensemble formed by classical guitarist Morgan Szymanski in 2006. Their first recording, ‘Mano a Mano’ will be launched at the Purcell Room in London’s South Bank on Thursday the 26th of April during La Linea ‘07, London’s famous Latin American Music Festival.

The recording boasts an impressive line-up of artists including Ruth Rogers on violin, Gemma Rosefield on cello, Spanish pianist Jose Menor, soprano Laura Mitchell, percussion from the O-Duo, Vietnamese accordion player Phuong Nguyen, Venezuelan singer Luzmira Zerpa and the famous Sacconi String Quartet.

Highlights include the world premiere recording of Alec Roth’s ‘Quintet for Guitar and Strings’, written especially for the Sacconi Quartet and Morgan Szymanski as well as the first recording of Simone Iannarelli’s ‘Valzer Brillante’ for guitar and strings.

Morgan Szymanski – Guitar
Machaca – Mano a Mano

Chamber Music for Guitar

Works by Piazzolla, Villa-Lobos, Lauro, Iannarelli, Roth, Brouwer, Bellinati and Ponce.

With guests: Sacconi Quartet, Ruth Rogers (violin), Gemma Rosefield (cello), Laura Mitchell (soprano), Luzmira Zerpa (cuatro, voice), ODuo (percussion), Jose Menor (harpsichord) and Phuong Nguyen (accordion).

Gramophone Review – July 2007

Machaca – Mano a Mano

“This young virtuoso is that rare thing among guitarists: a fine chamber player”

Morgan Szymanski’s second disc features the young Mexican-born guitarist’s ensemble Machaca playing chamber music for guitar and various instruments, from Manuel M. Ponce’s Preludio for guitar and harpsichord to the final work, Alec Roth’s Quintet for guitar and strings (here receiving its first recording). Throughout, there’s a real freshness and sparkle to the playing that perfectly complements the light, attractive nature of the music. After Ponce’s curious Baroque evocation comes a darker shading in the form of three movements from Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango. Here, a violin takes the original flute part in the outer movements while the accordion offsets Szymanski’s sweet, fully rounded tone for the middle. Perhaps not quite as successful are the four pieces originally for solo guitar, which seem overburdened by the addition of a vocalist and/or percussion. No such reservations with Ponce’s Estrellita (arranged for cello and guitar) or Villa-Lobos’s Bachianas brasileiras No 5.

Simone Iannarelli’s Valzer Brillante for guitar and string quartet sees Szymanski and the Sacconi Quartet exhibit the same superb ensemble to be found in the Roth. The latter composer’s eclecticism and willingness continually to subvert expectations (the Prelude is especially effective in this respect) inspire the performers to seize collectively on the blues-based elements and inject a relaxed, improvisatory feel into the whole.

Minor reservations aside, “Mano a Mano” is a real jewel of a disc, with Szymanski demonstrating that he’s not only a soloist of formidable talent but also that rare thing among guitarists: a fine chamber musician.

William Yeoman

1. Prelude for Harpsichord and Guitar – Manuel M. Ponce (Guest: Jose Menor – Harpsichord)
2. 2. Bordel 1900 – Astor Piazzolla (Guest: Ruth Rogers – Violin)
3. Café 1930 – Astor Piazzolla (Guest: Phuong Nguyen – Accordion)
4. Nightclub 1960 – Astor Piazzolla (Guest: Ruth Rogers – Violin)
5. Vals Criollo (Natalia) – Antonio Lauro [listen] (Guests: O Duo – Percussion/Luzmira Zerpa – Voice and Cuatro)
6. Valzer Brillante – Simone Iannarelli (World Premiere Recording) (Guests: Sacconi Quartet)
7. Danza Caracteristica – Leo Brouwer [listen] (Guest: Oliver Cox – Percussion)
8. Cancion de Cuna – Leo Brouwer (Guest: Laura Mitchell – Soprano/Oliver Cox- Percussion)
9. Estrellita – Manuel M. Ponce (Guest: Gemma Rosefield – Cello)
10. Jongo – Paulo Bellinati [listen] (Guests: O Duo – Percussion)
11. Bachianas Brazileiras No. 5 – Heitor Villa-Lobos (Guest: Laura Mitchell
    
    Quintet for Guitar and Strings – Alec Roth (World Premiere Recording) Guests: Sacconi Quartet 

12. Prelude (In memoriam Lobgott Piepsam)
13. Danza (Papa H Dances)
14. Cancion (A Fine Lady)
    Finale (All Around the World)

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Website: www.morganszymanski.co.uk