Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 22, 1992 TAG: 9201220353
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SETH WILLIAMSON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
GUITARIST PARKENING PLEASES PACKED ROANOKE COLLEGE HALL
Christopher Parkening played to his third sold-out house in as many visits Tuesday night at Roanoke College's Olin Hall. The man who can plausibly claim to be the heir of the legendary Andres Segovia as the world's greatest guitarist drew his customary mix of classical music enthusiasts and just plain guitar fanatics.Parkening's fans came from several surrounding states and overflowed Olin Hall even into the pressbox. "I just want to breathe the same air he's breathing," joked one man who said he'd driven from Eden, N.C.
Parkening, who was joined by his former student, David Brandon, for a few numbers at the end of the concert, played a mostly Spanish set. He told an interviewer Monday afternoon that the Spanish works were still fresh on his fingertips after recording his new EMI compact disc, "A Tribute to Segovia."
Parkening's performance Tuesday night was not the best this reviewer has heard from him. The occasional fluffed note and muddy-sounding run may have been due to a draft that bothered the guitarist during the first half, who was seen chafing his hands to warm them during intermission. That problem was evidently solved in time for the second half, which contained much better playing.
As far as the Olin Hall crowd was concerned, however, Parkening could do no wrong. Not only was the applause loud and vigorous all night long, but the guitarist's fans demanded and got three encores - and even then seemed reluctant to let him escape.
One element of this artist's reputation was evident at all times Tuesday night, and that was his talent as a colorist. Christopher Parkening is the Van Gogh of the guitar. Probably no other guitarist today can extract such a varied palette of timbres and hues from the instrument.
During the Suite in D Major of Michael Praetorius and the "Suite Espanola" of Gaspar Sanz, for example, Parkening repeatedly gave the impression that he was playing several entirely different instruments. Steely bridge tones, lush chords strummed over the soundhole, delicate chime-like harmonics: All were literally at the artist's fingertips.
The guitarist's solo set included such standards as the "Villanesca" of Enrique Granados, the "Capricho Arabe" of Francisco Tarrega and the "Variations on a Theme of Mozart" by Fernando Sor.
Parkening and Brandon performed Falla's "The Miller's Dance" and "La Vida Breve," the Prelude and Fugue of Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, and the 2-year-old "Evening Dance" of Andrew York. Brandon performed from memory; Parkening consulted a score throughout the evening.
The pair's first encore was Gordon Young's "Hymn of Christian Joy." After insistent applause Parkening alone returned for a version of "Simple Gifts" in which he detuned the low E string down to C as he played. And after yet more applause and a standing ovation, he performed the familiar Catalonian folksong "El Noi de la Mare." Parkening finally called it a night after yet another standing ovation and numerous shouts of "Bravo!"
Seth Williamson produces feature news stories and a classical music program for public radio station WVTF (89.1 FM) in Roanoke.