The young Polish musician Krzysztof Meisinger (b. 1984) is one of the most fascinating and charismatic guitarists of his generation. With the legendary Academy of St Martin in the Fields under the direction of the Brazilian conductor José Maria Florêncio, he has recorded the famous Guitar Concerto of Heitor Villa-Lobos. In this work of 1951, Villa-Lobos paid eloquent homage to the guitar’s qualities as a concert instrument. The recording also includes the Five Preludes for solo guitar, and an arrangement of Melodia Sentimental for guitar, violin, and string orchestra. This programme – recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London! – ideally displays the flexibility of a young soloist ready to conquer the world with his bewitching playing.

I think these songs are among the most beautiful pieces of music ever written. Compared to the absolutely unbelievably exuberant and emotional recording of Frederica von Stade/Antonio de Almeida, the tempo of most songs here seems slow, drawn out and not quite in harmony with the character of the songs. Of course, the voice of Te Kanawa is beautiful and the sound of the orchestra is rich in detail.