Though Segovia and John Williams have programmed his works, the name of Venezuelan composer Antonio Lauro (1917-1986) is scarcely a household word. Surely this must be due solely to lack of exposure, for the music on this Naxos CD is all of very high quality. What’s more, it is thoroughly enjoyable, as one great tune is followed by yet another and another. The melodies are so natural, unforced, and beguiling that you are tempted to call Lauro the greatest 20th century melodist of South America. The title of the CD, “Venezuelan Waltzes for Guitar” is a bit misleading, as not all of the compositions are in 3/4 time. Moreover, these “waltzes” are not just oom-pah stuff but have scintillating rhythms that shift from 3/4 to 3/2; sometimes the 3/4 alternates with 6/8. For me, the best of the 25 tracks was the four-movement Suite Venezolana, whose Danza negra section is a toe-tapping marriage of melody and rhythm that will certainly make Lauro a household word around here. American guitarist Adam Holzman seems to know this music from the inside out, and proves to be a virtuoso of the first order who has a good feeling for the lyric line as well as for the pungent rhythms written into these compositions. The sound is as natural as can be, allowing every nuance of Holzman’s remarkable performances to be clearly heard. Add it all up and you have a “must buy” CD, made even more attractive by the Naxos low price, which, in this case, defines “bargain”!
