The Devil's Caprice

On this tour of 150 years of guitar music, Grammy-winning Spanish guitarist Mabel Millán combines astonishing technical skill with an instinct for subtle expression and depth of emotion. Alongside the filigree ornamentation and rapid passagework of the opening track, Joaquín Malats’ “Serenata Española,” Millán displays a charming nonchalance, while the flawless tremolos of Eduardo Sainz De La Maza’s “Campanas del alba” frame a gorgeous bell-like melody, each note ringing with perfect precision. Millán brings drama and soul in equal measure to Joaquín Turina’s dramatic, demanding Sonata in D Minor, while the title track, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s “Capriccio diabolico,” is a delightful homage to virtuoso violinist and skilled guitarist Niccolò Paganini. Pieces by Brouwer, Ponce, and Fernando Sor (“the Beethoven of the guitar”) add up to a compelling recital.