How many guitarists do we know who could present a concert of 14 greatly demanding pieces then follow it with 5 equally demanding encores? Embedded in the program were a few familiar compositions (Barrios’s “Una Lumosna pour el amor de Dios” and Albeniz’s “Asturias” for examples) which invited comparison with the performances of many other guitarists of our acquaintence, and carried them off brilliantly and seemingly effortlessly. But then he went off with dazzling pieces by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Katchaturyn, and others of lesser note. After the concert a friend encouraged me to agree that Nugmanov was the best guitarist ever. I was tempted but then I hesitated because of the lifetime achievements of Williams, Russell, and many others of the masters. But Nugmanov is certainly near the top of that galaxy. I have to mention the fourth of the five encores. it started out in a complex melodic, jazy mood, when suddenly we realized he was riffing with the classic “The Man I Love” and later with “Chattanooga Choo Choo”! I say, Yuri is irresistible. Also a very personable man. P.S. Look him up on Google.
George Schindler 12/12/10

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