"These are three virtuoso players with plenty of technique and sensitivity, a trio that plays with a single mind. They are beautifully coordinated in timbre, dynamics, and rhythm. The transcription is by Dejour, and it is so well executed that one can forget the echoes of the piano and enjoy the wider timbral range of the guitars."
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Kenneth Keaton (American Record Guide)

"...this ensemble idea fits the music like a glove, and the sound is divine.
Of equal importance is the quality of the playing. These three musicians play together with the perfection of a Swiss timepiece. The palette of tonal color that they achieve is almost orchestral."  Read more..

Kevin Sutton (musicweb-international.com)

"...meisterlich umgesetzt, voller Lebenskraft, Temperament und großer Dynamik, die sich trefflich in der Trio-Transkription reflektiert. Musik auf Bilder, Gitarren als klingende Sensoren großer bildender Kunst - das Trio Campanella hat ein höchst originelles, aber auch ein im höchsten Maße zu respektierendes Werk geschaffen und damit dem Repertoire für Mehr-Gitarren-Besetzungen ganz gewiss einen unschätzbaren Dienst erwiesen."
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Alex Schmitz (AGAS)

"...Campanella's performance was art of colours, tones, shades and touching details…".

"....The performance was full of colours and controlled virtuosity in its entirety, but compelling El Corpus Christi created the high point of the concert. It was not a trio anymore, it was bigger and more orchestral - one big instrument, creating counterbalance between speed and lyrical and impressionistic atmospheres…"   Read more..

Kirsti Vanninen, Aamulehti November 2004

"..A major Hispanic offering, delivered with conviction..."  Read more..

Classical Guitar July 2004

"…The present release offers the first guitar recording of the entire suite, played by Trio Campanella. The result is a marvel both of the transcriber's art - the transcription is Dejour's - and the guitar ensemble playing at the highest level. This is a landmark recording…"

"…Campanella's superb performance gives us a new reason to return to them with fresh ears…"   Read more..

Steven Rings, American Record Guide March/April 2004

"...Die Rettung eines Meisterwerks vor sich selbst: Als Isaac Albéniz zwischen 1905 und 1908 seinen zwölfteiligen Klavierzyklus "Iberia" komponierte, hatte er, der mittlerweile schwer kranke Virtuose, selbst Probleme, manche der ungeheuren technischen Schwierigkeiten dieses Werkes zu bewältigen. Gerade das Städteportrait "Malaga" setzte ihm besonders zu ; da war er drauf und dran, die Manuskripte zu vernichten..."   Read more...

Reinhard J. Brembeck, Sueddeutsche Zeitung 2004

"…Trio Campanella has brought this beautiful construct home, to the guitar, and if Albeniz had known of such a trio as this, he would have written the piece for them…"

"…The trio executes a difficult transcription with rubato and dynamics and most of all an ensemble worthy of note. Approaching almost eighty minutes of music, Trio Campanella's disc contains the best trio playing I have heard…"    Read more...

Andrew Hull, Guitar Magazine 2004

"…In this first-ever arrangement for guitar of Albéniz's most famous work, Iberia, Christophe Dejour has managed to capture quite successfully the colourful and complex score by recasting the work for not one, but three instruments. Dejour exploits all of the technical possibilities of his instruments to achieve a wide palette of sounds and subtle shadings. The results are both exciting and adventuresome…"   Read more...

Kevin Sutton, MusicWeb 2004

"…the Trio's version of the Albeniz classic will probably push aside even de Larrocha's original piano version in my listening preference from now on…"   Read more...

John Sunier, AUDIOPHILE AUDITION 2004

"…The results are spellbinding. You know you're in for a treat from the very first notes of the opening Evocación. Never was a piece more aptly named - you can close your eyes and see a world coming to life as the trio unfolds Albéniz's richly nuanced harmony. And interpreting Dejour's totally assured arrangement, the trio coaxes a tapestry of textures out of the three guitars, with endlessly varying combinations of arpeggiated and chordal playing, different stroke techniques, harmonics and staccato, and exploiting the timbres of upper and lower registers. The backdrop is consistently sonorous, delicate, subtle and precise.

Claude Debussy once said of Iberia, a work which was to influence his own composition: "Never has music achieved such diversified, such colourful impressions: one's eyes close, as though dazzled by beholding such a wealth of imagery." The Trio Campanella would not have disappointed him."   Read more...

Matthew Shorter (BBC october 2003)

"...I'll begin by saying that it is spectacular - the best guitar trio playing I have ever heard!! The musicality, rhythm, textures and voicings that the trio realizes, and the unity of both technique and musical purpose make this recording a very rare gem. As you can imagine, I get a lot of recordings, but this one is so exceptional, I couldn't stop listening. BRAVO to the Trio Campanella!!"

Norbert Kraft, Artistic Director of Naxos guitar series

"The trio possess a very high international class....
The Suita Iberia is unique in classical guitar.
I warmly recommend Trio Campanella."

Göran Söllscher
Guitar professor at Malmö Music Academy, Sweden

"In this arrangement for guitars the piece is an outstanding success; it works far better than for orchestra, as it may also be heard, but the performance was indeed brilliant too.
The trio let Albéniz´ musical description of Spain glow poetically in an elegant elaboration with many delicate shadings in the inspired ensemble playing, and on top of this a splendid precision is offered."

Jyllandsposten

"Trio Campanella played with convincing, smooth changes in tempo; a crucial element in this folkloristic music.
The combination of concentration and relaxation was like a soothing breeze.
It is indeed good news, that the Trio Campanella will be recording the Suite Iberia on CD."

Politiken

"Their performance holds a very stimulating artistic level....
The trio has the will and the talent to make it big!"

Tomas Krakowski
Founder of Copenhagen Guitar Festival

"Dejour's work speaks volumes for his knowledge of Albeniz´ composition and his understanding of the composer´s sound idea and esthetic ideals."

Jose Ribera
Piano professor at Copenhagen Royal Music Academy

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