Rodrigo's "Fantasia para un gentilhombre" on Next Fretworks

As it turns out, our next Fretworks broadcast Saturday evening at 7 will bring us music from Venezuela, Argentina, Spain, Italy and England, with the centerpiece for the hour, Joaquin Rodrigo's popular and very enjoyable Fantasia par un gentilhombre. Rodrigo wrote his "Fantasy for a Gentleman" for the great Andres Segovia in 1954.  It's a suite for guitar and orchestra based on wonderful tunes and dances from the 17th century guitarist Gaspar Sanz.  We'll hear John Williams as soloist in a fine recording with the Philharmonia Orchestra going back to 1983. For music from South America, Sharon Isbin will bring us a short piece by the Venezuelan guitarist-composer, Antonio Lauro, and Cecile Daroux, Pablo Marquez and Leonardo Sanchez will play the Tango Suite No. 3 for Flute and Two Guitars by Astor Piazzolla, Argentina's best-known composer to most of us. From Italy, we have the great early 19th century guitarist-composer Mauro Giuliani for the Variations on a Theme by Paisiello.  Giovanni Paisiello was a popular opera composer of the time, and there are many examples of arrangements of the sort we'll hear on Saturday's program.  It's hard for guitarists to resist a good tune!  Our guitarist will be Ricardo Gallen, who was born in the Spanish town of Linares in 1972.  Among numerous other prizes, he won the Segovia Competition in 1998. Finally, we're off to England for music of Thomas Morley, a contemporary of William Shakespeare.  The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet will perform their arrangement of four Renaissance dances. Join me for some engaging music of the classical guitar on the next Fretworks Saturday at 7pm on classical 101.