Album Title: The Classical Guitar
Performers: Wilfres Bottcher/Karl Scheit/Weiner Solisten
Label: High Definition Tape Transfers HDDVD167
Running time: 44’ 18”
Recorded: Unknown. Transferred from 4-track Vanguard tape.


I am unfamiliar with guitarist Wilfred Bottcher, conductor Karl Scheit and the Weiner Solisten. A Google search revealed little information on this recording or performance. The liner notes make no mention as to when this was recorded but I suspect sometime in the 1950-1965 era. The program is a collection of Baroque guitar concertos by Vivaldi, Torelli, Carulli and Dowland. These old-school performances will definitely sound stodgy to those who are more acclimatized to the current trend of historically informed interpretations. I had a hard time coping with the slowish tempi and sickly sweet string sounds.



I greatly prefer the spritely, lithe, exciting and lean textures of today’s early music ensembles such as Europa Galante, Concerto Italiano and Freiburger Barockorchester. While the sound quality here is excellent—especially the 24/96 version—and the various pieces are well performed, I would only recommend this release to those who are completely allergic to period-performance practices. But then I'd I still think you be better served by the likes of I Musici or Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.