From the moment the guitar opened the piece without orchestral introduction, Rojas demonstrated unflagging control. In the tantalizing solo cadenzas, her long fingers glided over frets and fingerboard, in and out of dissonant chords that implied ethereal connections…
Paraguayan guitarist Berta Rojas joined with the National Orchestra for Joaquin Rodrigo's "Concerto de Aranjuez". Conductor Piotr Gajewski guided his players effective as partners in dialogue with the soloist or to provide a colorful Iberian soundscape supporting Rojas… She explored the entire realm of guitar language with versatile agility.
Rojas strummed the characteristic Iberian rhythms with a graceful reserve in the outer movements, and tugged upon the heart strings in the famous, melancholic Adagio, the melody nicely echoed in the cor anglais.
Rojas is renowned for the elegance of her playing - her hand glides effortlessly over the fretboard as if brushing a piece of silk. Her Aranjuez was an enrapturing experience (and not just its adagio) that was complemented by the firm yet sensitive playing of the RTE NSO under Robert Houlihan.