A couple of Sundays ago I went to hear Manuel Barrueco and The Beijing Guitar Duo in The Spanish Courtyard at Caramoor (an outdoor venue in Westchester county). Beautiful, manicured gardens and a clear, bright day. My first and only guitar teacher, Fred Draper, told me about Barrueco over 20 years ago! One of my first classical guitar concerts was Andres Segovia, the master. He was 94, came out with a cane but sat down and played so incredibly I forgot his age. There were very few technical issues and what amazed me was how emotional his playing was. I guess I assumed his massive reputation was built mainly on technique. Since then I’ve had the fortune to see and hear Christopher Parkening, John Williams, and Ana Vidovic. John Williams was my favorite of those three.

The program was called China West and featured composers, Chen Yi, Bach, Tan Dun, Joaquin Turina, Sergio Assad and Astor Piazzola. It was an eclectic exciting mix of compositions executed beautifully. The classical guitar is much more versatile than the word ‘classical’ sometimes seems to imply.
Please enjoy a beautiful Scarlatti sonata by the duo:

Here is another master: