Classical Guitar Magazine

Acoustic Guitar Magazine

Fabio Zanon

Bridge Guitar Reviews

Classical Guitar Magazine

minor7th.com

This is the duo's third CD and comprises mostly rare Brazilian and Norwegian music. The VillaLobos work written originally for piano and of nine so-called works is immediately beautiful. The recording is clear and the playing effortless. Alberto Nepomuceno was writing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for the piano. These arrangements by the duo are lively (in the case of Galhofeira) but moreover very tuneful and lots of fun. They should be heard more often. Greig's late work Slatter is far removed harmonically speaking from many of his other piano works such as the lyric pieces and include much more advanced harmonies that one might expect. However they sound as if they were written for the guitar and are, personally speaking a real find. Great arrangements. The two Improvisata are also quite rare works even in their original pianistic guise but in this duet guitar arrangement they really come to life, Why is Greig not arranged more often for the guitar, I wonder?
The Tristorosa by one Epaminonc!as Villalba Filho, is an interesting piece simply because it is a nom-de-plume for none other than VilIa-Lobos who was apparently embarrassed by its disarming simplicity and felt he couldn't put his real name to it.
In spite of the strange story it is a lovely warmhearted piece originally written in 1910 for piano. The Danish KJell Marcussen's Retrospect is a set of four pieces in a folk style. I wish the score were in print, because I wanted to play them immedialely after hearing them. Altogether this is a wonderfully played set of pieces by a very talented duo. This CD is a must buy.
Chris Dumigan
“(…)this duo really shines on the Sommerfeldt pieces, displaying a rich tone and well-developed sense of melody.” Stephen Dick
“I’ve managed to hear your CD and I am mightily impressed with it.
Loving performances, superbly recorded, with a live feeling to it. Keep on with the great work.”

“The Norwegian guitar Duo Gvito consists of two extraordinary classical
guitarists…. The CD ends with Jobiniana No.1 and Farewell composed by Sergio Assad with heartbreaking and absorbing adaptations of this famous guitarist. Duo Gvito has a modern approach to classical and related music which surely will attract any guitar enthusiast.“ Henk te Veldhuis

“Duo Gvito give commendable performances, their technical and musical skills enabling them to communicate the musical enjoyment they obvious feel from performing this material. The empathy the duo have towards music from this region of the world is very evident. The Machado and Assad pieces providing ample evidence of this.” Steve Marsh

Although Norway doesn't typically come to mind when one thinks of the classical guitar, the two Norwegian guitarists comprising Duo Gvito are making great strides towards putting their country on the classical guitar map. In their third CD, released in October 2008, they have compiled a collection of their own arrangements of music from both Norway and Brazil. From their home country, they selected two works by eminent Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, as well as a debut recording of a work by Kjell Marcussen, written to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Grieg's death. All three compositions work beautifully on the guitar, taking advantage of a wide range of dynamics and timbres. The Brazilian selections are all arrangements of works by Alberto Nepomuceno and Heitor Villa-Lobos. These works each have attractive yet distinctive melodies, very much in the Brazilian style, and no doubt chosen by Duo Gvito for that exact reason. Both guitarists prove their technical acumen, as the disc is rife with complex passages, requiring not only exceptional accuracy from each individual, but impeccable ensemble skills. Meanwhile, during the softer melodic passages, they savor the moment, never rushing or casually dismissing any detail. In the end however, what makes this disc most striking, is the sheer enjoyment they seem to share in the performance of the music; there is a uniquely joyous feel to the entire disc that makes listening to it a true pleasure. © Timothy Smith