This week’s pick is an impeccable performance of an 1821 opus by Fernando Sor from a 1993 concert at Munich Philharmonic Hall by the incomparable master, Manuel Barrueco. The Cuba-born guitarist was raised primarily in the United States and studied at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, where he has also taught for the past 25 years. In between, he taught at the Manhattan School of Music for many years and along the way established himself as one of the top contemporary classical-guitarists, touring the world and recording many albums.
Look for an article about Manuel Barrueco’s days as a student and, later, a teacher, in the next issue of Classical Guitar, available in August.
Fans of Barrueco will also be excited to learn that there is a beautiful new coffee table book about him and his legendary guitar, called No. 58: Manuel Barrueco, Robert Ruck, & a Guitar, available now from Tonar Music’s website. The book contains dozens of fantastic photos of Barrueco and his Ruck guitar, and weaves a fascinating narrative about the careers of both the guitarist and luthier, in Barrueco’s and Ruck’s own words. The book was put together by Nicholas Simmons who, sadly, passed away shortly before it was published.
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