Sor: Guitar Duets (Complete), Vol. 1

Sor isn't really "the Beethoven of the guitar," as admirers call him. His music is never serious or weighty enough to stand up to that comparison. But he is the outstanding guitar composer of the classical era, writing idiomatically for his instrument and always providing intelligent entertainment in his music, if never inviting heavy emotional involvement. This Canadian duo plays with virtually perfect ensemble--which is very difficult to achieve on two instruments with such sharp-plucked attacks on every note. And they express the graciousness of the music quite well. Interesting note: the disc was produced by another fine guitarist, Norbert Kraft. --Leslie Gerber