Concierto de Aranjuez: Adagio

Paco de Lucía, 1991. Solo by Paco de Lucía.

Rodrigo's concerto played by a flamenco guitarist, with the famous slow movement given a flamenco phrasing.

Joaquín Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez is a cornerstone of the classical guitar repertoire, and Paco de Lucía's recording brings a flamenco guitarist's instincts to it. In the famous Adagio, his phrasing carries a flamenco sense of tension and release, with ornaments and a rhythmic edge that classical players usually smooth away. The tone is warm but more direct than a classical interpretation. The recording divided purists but offered a new way to hear a much-loved melody. Listen for how he shapes the slow, sorrowful theme with a slightly harder attack, giving the familiar tune a rawer emotional quality.

Concierto de Aranjuez: Adagio by Paco de Lucía is featured in our Flamenco (#7) list. The solo is played by Paco de Lucía and the song was released in 1991.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Flamenco Guitar Recordings — #7

Sources