ANDREA
BISSOLI

'Recorded over the last three years, Naxos's Villa-Lobos: Complete Guitar Manuscripts (8.503289) gives a fascinating insight into the Brazilian composer's music for the instrument. The best-known work in the set is the 1955 Concerto, but the Italian virtuoso Andrea Bissoli also introduces us to rarities aplenty.'

'Andrea Bissoli devoted himself to an immense work of research, transcription (Dime perché, Tarantela, Motivos Gregos, fourteen children's songs from Guia prático) and completion (Valsa Concerto n° 2). Following a quest for authenticity, he returned to manuscripts previously unavailable.
This anthology lets us encompass, through the view of a guitarist, the heterogeneity of Villa-Lobos's œuvre, particularly enhanced in Volume 3, which juxtaposes the virtuoso Études, children's songs and a symphonic episode.'

'Andrea Bissoli approaches, with brilliance, our major composer's key works.'

'Bissoli's guitar playing is full of expression and absolutely splendid.'

'Hearty congratulations to Andrea Bissoli, not only on his technical and interpretative qualities, of absolute excellence, but also on the effort and painstaking patience in discovering all these works as well as in bringing together a large number of passionate professionals (from choir, orchestra and various ensembles), all of them justly convinced of the merit of such an elaborate and extremely valuable project. This is a splendid example of what we should expect from an important, musically-literate programme.'

'The project is the brainchild of the exceptionally-talented Italian guitarist Andrea Bissoli, who presents us with what is described as rare and recently discovered works for guitar, solo, accompanied, and 'inspired-by'. Bissoli, who has made Villa-Lobos something of a speciality, is the lead interpreter in this series, and is excellent throughout, having a very natural approach to these works. This project in all its variety is a success, with excellent all-round contributions from all the musicians in very well balanced recordings.'

'This is the work of a passionate musician, the young Andrea Bissoli, an Italian guitarist with a total love for the œuvre of Villa-Lobos. He has been playing Villa-Lobos since he was thirteen, dedicating his first concert to the composer, and has been working on his grand Villa-Lobos project for ten years.
And so, here is Andrea Bissoli's grand project!'

'The young guitarist shows he has internalised deeply the peculiarity of Villa-Lobos's language and aesthetic, translating them into an intense phrasing, full of nuance.'

'The recordings confirm Bissoli as one of the leading interpreters of Villa-Lobos.'

'If you love the guitar and Villa-Lobos, you need to get this invaluable set.'

'...a good three hours of the most challenging music...'

'Bissoli surrounded himself with first-rate collaborators and has given life to a work that sparkles with excellence from every angle. Hats off!'

'Bissoli has established himself as a mature and solid musician.'

'Although I have collected several CDs featuring Villa-Lobos's works for solo guitar, and his Guitar Concerto, Andrea Bissoli's compilation and the research behind it have made me see Villa-Lobos's works for guitar in a different light, and I would go so far as to say that Andrea Bissoli could be the best interpreter of Villa-Lobos's guitar works.'

'Andrea Bissoli deserves particular praise for approaching highly demanding pages - both from an instrumental and a musical point of view - with great aplomb and a perfectly fitting style.'

'Bissoli's musicological research would be only of academic interest if his performances were cautious or dull. Happily, they are anything but. He is a brilliant guitarist, and plays with vitality and élan, equally determined to recreate the fire of the composer's inspiration as he is to unearth forgotten works.'

'The performances are uniformly captivating and the recording quality is excellent...Bissoli, a young Italian guitarist, takes part in everything except Choros No. 6 and shines throughout; neither his technique nor his total identification with the music can be faulted.'

'Bissoli's editorial enterprise is beyond praise. As a player, he presents his findings with reverence, on a cushion of delectable harmonies—technically most accomplished.'

'The third volume of Villa-Lobos's manuscripts, like the previous two, was recorded by guitarist Andrea Bissoli, whose rigour and great interest in the past have lent the collection an enormous historical value.'

'One of Naxos's most captivating recordings for guitar.'

'This is a fine culmination to Bissoli's enterprise.'

'It is an audacious, truly original and completely new project...Bissoli's version of the Guitar Concerto establishes itself as one of the best available, for the clarity of its musical intentions and for its technical and interpretative quality...After listening to the first two volumes we realized that our aesthetic horizon on Villa-Lobos must surely be redrawn, encompassing wider horizons and discovering new wonders.'

'A fascinating release - Bissoli and colleagues present ten unfamiliar works for guitar, along with fine performances of the concerto and the Bachianas Brasileiras N°5 Ária, all in very good to excellent performances. This is a valuable release and belongs in the collection of any who likes Villa-Lobos.'

'Splendid recording and energetic playing throughout.'

'Bissoli's inspired revisiting of the Études, together with a charming sequence of sound bite folk settings from Guia Prático (1932) and a newly minted arrangement of Tarantella (1911), which Bissoli persuasively argues was written "guitar in hand", provides compelling evidence that the Villa-Lobos well is far from dry.'

'Bissoli's Dime perché takes on a Romantic hue and natural charm; facets which remain throughout this excellent disc. Valsa Concerto No. 2 is characteristic of Bissoli's style: a hot spring of bubbling energy and rejuvenating zest that seeps into a quintessentially Brazilian ambience...A favourite recording from this CD would be the Choros No. 1. Bissoli's instinctive tempo changes and natural sway is utterly compelling. Listeners are teased by his slow return to Villa-Lobos's seductive theme. His sound is stripped of artificiality. Here is a player who conveys his impressions and feelings with facility, confidence and subtlety...With exquisite solos and orchestral passages, this CD conjoins Villa-Lobos's skills in virtuosic composition and musical arrangement. The two styles interweave seamlessly, forming a gossamer of Euro-Brazilian sounds and it's all attractively held together by Andrea Bissoli.'

'Bissoli's playing is faultless and it will be a pleasure to watch its future development.'

'The fourteen folksong arrangements from Guia prático...were not guitar pieces: Villa-Lobos suggested various instrumental accompaniments, but the one here is the work of guitarist Andrea Bissoli. These virtually unknown pieces are exquisite chamber arrangements, absolutely charming, and unlike anything anyone else has done with children's music before...Ensemble Cirandinha catches the popular quality of these, accompanying Bissoli, and while they might seem as much Bissoli as Villa-Lobos, they're terrific however they are defined. Bissoli also delivers strong performances of the 12 Études, the best-known work on the album, playing a guitar similar to the one owned by the work's dedicatee, Andrés Segovia. A rousing tarantella opens the program. The engineering, from a couple of Italian venues, is very strong, with no extraneous guitar noise. Strongly recommended.'

'This is a very rewarding anthology of works for those new to Villa-Lobos as well as the seasoned listener. Andrea Bissoli and his collaborators give us a stirring view of the considered yet spirited music of the master. These is enough here that is new or re-arranged to supply anyone interested and following the composer's output with a fresh take.
Highly recommended!'

'Villa-Lobos's Guia prático was a series of short songs composed when Villa-Lobos was superintendent of music in Rio, 1932...Bissoli arranges fourteen of them for guitar and chamber ensemble. They are in first recording here (as is the guitar version of the Tarantella), and are most certainly quite charming...Not all of this music is monumental. But all is rather delightful. Anyone with a liking or even just a curiosity about Villa-Lobos in his early- to mid-period will find this a very enjoyable go-round. Bissoli gives us finely nuanced guitar renditions that all who dwell in the land of six strings will appreciate, too. A good listen!'

'Once again Andrea Bissoli, guitarist of communicative warmth, plays the role of principal soloist here...The music is generally enthralling, the performances very good to excellent. Bissoli, Ensemble Musagète, the Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra under Fabio Mechetti and soprano Gabriella Pace offer up to us the music in all its idiomatic splendor and charm. Some of this is indeed obscure; all of it is very worthwhile Villa-Lobos that no doubt will give you many hours of enjoyment whether you are a confirmed Villa-Lobos appreciator (such as I am) or new to him. Very much recommended!'

'There is a great variety to be heard here. A common element is classical guitarist Andrea Bissoli, who sounds perfectly well in the role of soloist. He has a great feel for the music and a touch that fits right in.'