DISCOGRAPHY

Repertoire: Paulo Bellinatti (1950): Emboscada. Marco Pereira (1950): O Choro de Juliana, Baião Cansado, Rapsódia dos Macacos. Alberto Mejia (1959): Dois Lugares. Ronaldo Miranda (1948): Appassionata. João Luiz (1979): Batuque. Sérgio Assad (*1952): Seis Brevidades. Paulo Bellinatti: Embaixador, Jongo.

Reviews:

“The Brazilian Andre Simao is such a guitarist, and consequently he plays every single track on this CD perfect. Bombastic in the rhythmic, sensitive while presenting the enchanting melodies and extremely sound sensitive when colouring the refined harmonies, the guitarist asserts himself over the almost one-hour program. He does not seem to know or fear maximum difficulties, which is why some highly virtuoso pieces, such as Appassionata by Ronaldo Miranda or Pereira's Rapsodia dos malacos, give the listener the highest listening pleasure. Bellinatti's now world-famous Jongo sets the perfect ending behind the exciting program of the very well produced album. Therefore, this album is recommended not only for Brazil fans, but all lovers of excellently composed and interpreted classical guitar music.”

— Akustik Gitarre Magazine, Germany, 2019.  

“Assad’s Seis Brevidades pack an amazing amount of beauty, power, and invention into bite-size portions (…) and require a virtuosity that the left-handed Simão achieves with seeming ease.”

— Classical Guitar, USA, 2019.

Reviews:

“Everybody knows that there are many top guitarists in Brazil, but the majority of them are not pure classic guitarists, with some exceptions, such as the Duo Assad. André Simão is Brazilian and he is a classic guitarrist. This CD, which is his first, proves that he is a soloist of international format. The 17 titles of this potpourri program from Weiss to Giuliani and his fellow countryman Gnatalli indicate that he has a brilliant technique, a rich sound and a very good taste. His interpretation of Tasman’s Cavatina shows us how this Suite should always be given to the listener. It’s great! But the real top points are the Suite para Guitarra whose author, César Guerra-Peixe, is not well known outside Brazil, and the etudes by the famous Radamés Gnatalli which are also rarely performed. The Suite para Guitarra hadn’t had any alternative recording up to now and this fact increases considerably the value of this current album. Andre’s sensitive performance gives this piece the right sonority. Gnatalli’s etudes are, on the other side, enriched by the performer’s sense of humour as well as technical assurance which show that this debut is definitely a success.”

— Akustik Gitarre Magazine - Germany, May 2008

“This CD confirms the Brazilian tradition of producing outstanding guitarists.”

— Revista Concerto - Brazil, 2007

“André Simão is a serious guitarist with great musical sensibility and whose career I have been following with much interest for several years. His first CD solo immediately calls our attention for the splendid recording quality which was carried out by Ricardo Marui at Santa Cruz Church in Redenção da Serra (Brazil), a place which is bound to become a pilgrimage site for guitarists due to its generous and welcoming acoustic. Andre Simão’s polyphonic and well worked sonority together with a careful musical interpretation can therefore be completely savoured in each one its tracks.”

— Sérgio Abreu, brazilian guitarist and luthier, 2007

FURNAS Geração Musical

Label: Sony Brasil, 2005

Repertoire: Participation in two tracks of the CD: Francisco Mignone (1897-1986): 8a. Valsa em Sol menor, Estudo Nr. 6.