Classical Guitar, February 2004 Niehusmann Gitarren Duo Judith and Volker Niehusmann who make up the Niehusmann Gitarren Duo, present here an interesting and well-ordered programme many items af which are unfortunately not heard often enough. The three pieces by Pujol are very characteristic of this composer with strong and exiting rhythmic passages abruptly transformed into slow, melancholy episodic sections a la Piazzolla, one of this particular writer´s biggest influences. This is a well chosen opener to this recital, contrasting with, and leading very neatly into, the splendid Brouwer set. „Musica Incendental Campesina“ is a group of four very entertainig short works. Brouwer writes so well for the instrument and this work illustrates perfectly his exceptional talent. None of the individual items lasts for more than one-and-a-half minutes but there is so much musicality in these brief pieces; Brouwer managing to say more in under four minutes than most other composers could convey in double the time. The „Suite op.135“ by Jean Absil is a real pinnacle of this recording; the two vivacious outer movements flanking an exquisitely moody and lyrical middle one. The three pieces from Pernambuco, Barroso and Nazareth although listed as individual items, actually make up an attractive grouping with the opening infectious tune of „Choro“ (Sound of Bells) contrasting nicely with the slow and sombre tango, „Nostalgia“ and the group finishing with the vivacious „Famoso“. Mario Gangi´s striking three-movement „Suite Spagnola“ brings this programme to its end in a flamenco fashion with the Niehusmann Gitarren Duo...
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