NEWS UPDATES

Live Performance Video Releases

Robert Wetzel has released over thirty film clips of live in concert performances that were caught on film over the past twenty years of his performing career. The filmclips are from archival sources of film footage collected by Robert and they have been presented to the world on his new channel at www.youtube.com

Various solo and ensemble situations in concert may be heard and seen here.

To name a few of the film clips:

Two separate films of Cordoba by Isaac Albeniz; one for solo guitar and another for cello & guitar featuring the brilliant Russian cellist, Gaiana Mndoian. Ms. Mndoian was a private pupil of Mstislav Rostropovich while she studied at the prestigious Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow where she also later taught cello students before moving to the United States.

A rare complete performance of the Quartet No. 3 in A major, Op. 19, composed for violin, viola, cello and guitar by the long neglected interesting guitarist and composer, Francois de Fossa (1775-1849).

All three movements of the Concerto in d minor for guitar and orchestra, originally composed for oboe, strings and continuo by the Baroque composer, Alessandro Marcello.

The three movement Quartet No. 1 in a minor, Op. 4, composed by the great Italian violinist, Niccolo Paganini (1784-1840) for violin, viola, cello and guitar.

Encores composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Jules Massenet arranged for guitar & piano by Robert Wetzel.

Live in concert performances by the Odeum Guitar Duo (classical guitarists, Robert Wetzel & Fred Benedetti) where they perform original or arranged works for two guitars by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert, Franz Liszt, Nikolai Rimsky Korsakov, Tomaso Albinoni, Isaac Albeniz, Enrique Granados, Luigi Boccherini, Fernando Sor and Ferdinand Carulli.

You are invited to see and hear concert performances caught on film which present works for classical guitar & pipe organ, cello & guitar, guitar & piano, guitar & string trio, guitar & string quartet, and guitar & orchestra. Famous composers presented here with the guitar include Johann Sebastian Bach, Niccolo Paganini, Peter Tchaikovsky, Jules Massenet, Antonio Vivaldi, Leonard Von Call, Luigi Boccherini, Enrique Granados and Ferdinand Carulli.

 

NEWS UPDATE

New Video Web Page Added to
RobertWetzel.com

A new video webpage has been added to the www.robertwetzel.com website which highlights performances of Robert Wetzel caught on film. Masterworks originally composed or arranged for solo guitar, guitar & orchestra, guitar & cello, guitar & string trio, guitar & string quartet, guitar & piano, and two guitars may be viewed by clicking on the VIDEO tab under the INFORMATION page of this website. Composers presented here on the VIDEO page are Alessandro Marcello, Francois de Fossa, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Jules Massenet, Fernando Sor, Enrique Granados, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Isaac Albeniz.

 

NEWS UPDATE

Soundboard review

Robert Wetzel received a very favorable review for his two solo debut recordings in Soundboard, The Journal of the Guitar Foundation of America, Volume 32.3-4. Music critic Jim McCutcheon wrote: "Guitarist Robert Wetzel has released his debut recordings, Guitar Fantasy in Spain and Italy, Volumes 1 & 2. The CDs were produced entirely by the artist, and he shows himself to be skilled in several areas including performance, recording, and artwork... ". "His performance of a ricercare by Francesco da Milano was delivered with clear counterpoint, and left me wishing to hear more pieces from this composer. The guitar in Francisco Guerau's Canarios had a pleasant tone reminiscent of the Baroque guitar... ". "Seven pieces by Spanish composer Jose Ferrer were performed elegantly, with a sense of spaciousness that lends a wonderful dimension of beauty to the music... ".

"Francisco Molino's Eighteen Preludes are on Volume 1, and it is good to hear a recording of them in their entirety. Students will benefit from hearing the entire collection presented as a whole...". "...The recorded sound quality was quite acceptable, with a tasteful amount of reverb. The editing within pieces, if there was any, was unnoticeable...". "...Five pieces by Angel Barrios show Wetzel's ability to create different moods with a sense of style and line with music which has not been widely recorded. I am hopeful that this music may soon become part of more guitarists' repertoires. The selections were lovely...". "...From these two recordings, Robert Wetzel appears to be an artist with much potential. His creative energy is obvious and substantial, and I look forward to experiencing his next recordings."

 

NEWS UPDATE

Robert Wetzel starts
Concert Hall Records Label

In December of 2005 Robert Wetzel started his own independent record label, Concert Hall Records. Beginning in Spring of 2006 and thereafter, CD albums and individual tracks on the Concert Hall Records label will be available worldwide for download purchase at all websites which exist to sell downloadable music in the classical music genre. Apple iTunes, Microsoft MSN Music Store, Sony Connect, Rhapsody are just a few of the many online music stores and services that will offer single tracks or entire CD albums for sale from the sound recordings catalog of Concert Hall Records.

Physical CDs are available online at www.guitarsalon.com or call 310-586-1100 to order. CDs will also be available for purchase at www.cdbaby.com early in 2006.

Guitar Salon International is now selling Guitar Fantasy Vol.1 & Vol.2 Check them out.

The first two CD albums which present Robert Wetzel’s solo recording debut are available below or on this website’s Discography and Purchase pages.

 

NEWS UPDATE

CD RELEASE

Solo Guitar

Robert Wetzel

“Guitar Fantasy in Spain and Italy”,
Robert Wetzel, guitar; Concert Hall Records,
CHR 00101, ©2005

 

“Technically strong, musically attractive performances…
…captures the full round sound of his Miguel Rodriguez instrument beautifully…historical interest.”

American Record Guide

CHR 00101

This CD contains 31 tracks!

Works by: Fernando Sor – Theme Varie, Op. 15 (c); Francesco Molino – Eighteen Preludes; Jose Broca – Schotisch, Una Flor, Minue, Recuerdo Triste-Melodia para guitarra, Valse No. 1, Andante Sentimental; Gaspar Sanz(arr. Wetzel) – “Fantasy for a noble gentleman” Suite - Villano, Fuga 1a, Espanoleta, La cavalleria de Napoles con dos clarines, Las hachas y La buelta, Canarios

Available at:
www.guitarsalon.com

BUY NOW CHR 00101
Guitar Fantasy in Spain and Italy

 

NEWS UPDATE

CD RELEASE

Solo Guitar

Robert Wetzel

“Guitar Fantasy in Spain and Italy Vol. 2”,
Robert Wetzel, guitar; Concert Hall Records,
CHR 00102, ©2005

“His tone is deep and robust…mysterious depths…The interpretations are tasteful and restrained …quite a few works off the beaten path…appealing…”

American Record Guide

CHR 00102

This CD contains 18 tracks!

Works by: Angel Barrios – Zacatin, Sueno infantil, Pregon de los flores, Saeta granadina, Viejo romance; Francesco da Milano (Arr. Wetzel) – Ricercare; Francisco Guerau (Arr. Wetzel) – Canarios; Jose Ferrer – Belle-Gavotte, Vals-Lento cantabile, Charme De La Nuit-Nocturne, Ejercicio-Allegretto, Nostalgia-Andantino, La Danse Des Naides-Larghetto-Mazurka, L’Etudiant De Salamanque-Tango and Valse; Niccolo Paganini – Sonata No. 32 in E major-Minuetto, Valtz; Sonata No. 24 in G major-Andantino, Minuetto

Available at:
www.guitarsalon.com

BUY NOW CHR 00102
Guitar Fantasy in Spain and Italy Vol. 2

These two CDs aforementioned above were originally released simultaneously and earlier on SBE Records in October, 2004 with the same titles and tracks and are still available on the SBE label from brick and mortar stores such as Tower Records, Borders, Barnes and Noble, etc. and online CD stores such as: amazon.com and guitarsalon.com.

SBE Records gave Robert Wetzel permission to re-release these two recordings on his own label, Concert Hall Records. These CDs co-exist on two separate record labels and are all available now for purchase either as downloads or physical CDs! See the Discography and Purchase pages!