Remy Franck gives a ♪♪♪♪♪ rating to Smaro Gregoriadou’s new recording, A Healing Fire, on his Pizzicato journal:
“The Greek guitarist Smaro Gregoriadou is known for her constant experimentation with the guitar sound. On this CD, you can experience this once again. … excellent phrasing and dynamic playing. … Gubaidulina’s expressive Serenade leads to the Suite pour guitare by the Canadian Jacques Hétu (1938-2010). The Suite, composed in 1986, with five relatively short movements, begins with a somewhat unwieldy prelude. This is followed by a Nocturne, while the third movement, the Ballade by Smaro Gregoriadou, is effectively heightened. The fourth movement, Rêverie, leads to the finale, which the guitarist plays with a lot of drive and tension, before the meditative middle section, in stark contrast, provides a breathing pause to gather strength for the virtuoso coda. Also in this piece, Smaro Gregoriadou’s full and rich guitar sound is top class.”
—Remy Franck, Pizzicato