The Commander-in-Chief & Craig Ogden: 2 Guitars – The Classical Crossover Album (2014)

Subtitled ‘The Classical Crossover Album’, this 2014 release finds Berit Hagen on electric guitar and Craig Ogden on classical, and they work their way through a series of pieces, showing that a classical acoustic and 7-string electric can work well together when in the hands of two masters. The idea came about after Berit released a recording of “Zigeunerweisen Op.20” in 2013, a piece originally written for violin and orchestra by the Spanish composer Pablo de Sarasate. That was so well received she invited Ogden to work on an album, which was released in 2014. I was raised in a house where quite a lot of classical music was played, at a time when if you were learning the piano it was all about Beethoven and Mozart, so being forced to play that instrument for eight years I have since had an appreciation for classical. I know I do not listen to as much of the genre as I should, and even less of pure classical guitar, but playing this release makes me realise I am missing out on a great deal.

This is a beautiful album, with both musicians allowing their instruments to shine in their own way but not at the detriment to the other. Berit has a delicate touch, using her electric guitar to provide just the right amount of edge and sustain against the acoustic, but resists the urge to move into shred territory while Ogden knows how to flourish yet keep it all controlled. The result is something which, while it is going to appeal more to those who enjoy classical music, has a real crossover styling. Their take on Dvorak’s “Humoresque (Op. 101, No. 7)”, is a delight but my personal favourite has to be Paganini’s “Caprice in A minor: Tema con Variazioni (Quasi Presto)”. One of the most important programmes in the UK when I was growing up was ‘The South Bank Show’ with Melvyn Bragg, and this was the theme music, taken from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Variations’ album where it was performed by his cellist brother Julian alongside the likes of Gary Moore. That has long been one of my favourite pieces of crossover classical music and here it is both strangely familiar yet quite different.

Overall, this is a simply stunning album that all fans of classical music will do well to discover.

Rating: 10/10