St Mary’s Church, Barnard Castle

THIS recital by the renowned American guitarist was part of the Barnard Castle Classical Guitar Weekend and quite a coup for organiser Paul Croft as it was Kanengiser’s only solo performance during a European tour with his award-winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.

Though it had taken five years to arrange, it was well worth the effort because even in the very first piece, Falla’s La Danza del Molinero, it was clear from the wonderful dynamics and superb control that here was a master guitarist with a wonderful technique and great interpretative and communicative skills.

The concert was arranged in two distinct sets featuring the Music of Spain and the Music of North America with Kanengiser eloquently and succinctly introducing each piece and its composer.

His playing throughout was even more eloquent, shown for example on a truly touching and moving Fantasie Elegiaque by Fernando Sor, three contrasting miniatures by Tárrega and Turina’s Fantasia which combined Sevillian flamenco with impressionism.

Luckily the rainfall that night, which had threatened to drown out the music, eased off for the second set which opened with two Cuban Folksong arrangements by Léo Brouwer – a very delicate Lullaby and a vividly depicted Danza Carecteristica.

Four pieces by Manuel Ponce included a wonderfully lilting Intermezzo and some beautifully expressed and sophisticated habanera rhythms.

Bryan Johanson’s intricate The Magic Serenade began like a harp but became more harmonious and mandolin-like and Bryan Head’s virtuosic and swinging Brookland Boogie impressed with its complex finger work.

An encore of Gerald Garcia’s Spring Snow, adapted from a Chinese folk song was equally virtuosic.

Peter Bevan