Franz Schubert (1797-1828): 6 Schubert'sche Lieder - arr. Joseph Kaspar Mertz (1806-1856)
Ivan Padovec (1800-1873): Variations sur la valse favorite de F. Schubert, Op. 4
Manuel Maria Ponce (1882-1948): Sonate Romantique "Hommage à Schubert"

Notes from the Spanish label Eudora: "One of the greatest guitarists of his generation, Petrit Çeku guides us on this wonderful journey through Schubert's inner world. There are many myths surrounding the great composer's relationship with the guitar, most of them of spurious origin. Whatever the full truth about Schubert and the guitar, it is easy to understand why some guitarists and composers - such as those featured on this album - were devoted to his music. Çeku brings together Mertz's outstanding Schubert's transcriptions with Padovec's Variations op. 4 and Ponce's Sonate "Hommage à Schubert", with utmost sensitivity, transcendence and finesse, a recording for the ages!"

I first heard guitarist Petrit Çeku back in 2016 when I reviewed his exceptionally "musical" interpretation of Bach's Cello Suites transcribed for guitar. I stress the word "musical" because although it may seem arguably easy to play the guitar, it's another story to bring out highly expressive details on this instrument, especially when playing music intended for another instrument. It requires refined musicianship to put that across, and in my opinion, Petrit Çeku is definitely a refined musician.

For instance, the ease with which he projects the lyrical character of the Schubert songs, or how he shades and colors individual notes within the first movement of the Ponce sonata is quite remarkable. He's obviously mastered the guitar to the point where what you hear first and foremost is the composer's music played on a guitar, and not just simply a guitar intonating the music. These may sound like one and the same, but they are world's apart in conception and execution. Petrit Çeku is one of a handful of musicians that can elevate the humble guitar to a higher level of musical and expressive utterance.

If you enjoy the sound of the classical guitar and would like to hear something other than the usual Spanish music ascribed to it, I can't but strongly recommend this new CD.