J. K. MERTZ: Petra Poláčková, GUITAR
BRIDGE 9598

This CD marks the first commercial release of recordings by the great Czech guitarist, Petra Poláčková. Producer David Starobin writes: "A few years ago I came upon some stunning video of the guitarist Petra Poláčková. Since then I’ve avidly followed her work, and have marveled at her passionate performances of repertoire spanning the centuries. What a pleasure it was to finally meet in 2024 for these recording sessions in New York City. Petra is a musician after my own heart - a deep player, who seduces the listener into the dreamworld of that consummate Romantic, J. K. Mertz. Hearing Mertz’s music as he performed it, on a “Romantic Guitar” with added basses, gives these small gems nearly symphonic range, without sacrificing their exquisite intimacy."

Reviews:

"Poláčková's lovely playing – on a nine-string romantic guitar made in 2014, based on a model from 1840 – is also apparent in Elegie für die Guitare, an expansive and serious work, and in Fantaisie Hongroise (the first of Trois Morceaux pour la Guitarre, Op. 65), whose themes and rhythms bear direct comparison to Liszt’s in some of his distinctly Hungarian-influenced works. Mertz’s music is uniformly well-made, lies and sounds very well on his chosen instrument, and in Poláčková's hands offers listeners an aural journey thoroughly packed with delight."  — Mark J. Estren, Infodad.com

BRIDGE 9598