Segovia Plays Villa Lobos

For me the artistry of Andres Segovia has always been a special pleasure. He is long gone but his work lives on in recordings and in several videos. Here he is late in his career playing a Prelude by Villa Lobos. The technique is not what it once was but the tone and the phrasing remain something to treasure. Although he played an instrument that lacked the great works written for violin, cello and piano Segovia transcribed many works and inspired contemporary composers to write for his instrument. As a performer, he was part of that generation that included Casals, Kreisler and Hofmann. They all played with an interpretative freedom that passed out of fashion. But such artists often came closer to the intention of the composer than more literal performers.

Paul E. Robinson