MUSIC REVIEWS : ASSADS IN RECITAL AT AMBASSADOR

As difficult to tell apart as the cough-drop Smith Brothers, Sergio and Odair Assad present similar mirror images as virtuoso guitarists. Yet, in a recital of duets at Ambassador Auditorium on Sunday, the Brazilian musicians offered two sets that varied starkly.

The first half presented a lively assortment of recent works for two guitars (e.g., four “Micro Pieces” by Leo Brouwer and two preludes and fugues by Castelnuovo-Tedesco), plus older works arranged for guitar duet (five “pieces de clavecin” by Rameau).

But, post-intermission, the quality of music took a quick nose dive: redundant, nondescript pieces by such unknowns as Gnattali, Petit and Piazzolla (there were no program notes). Although each work had its moments, particularly the brilliant concluding movements of Gnattali’s “Braziliana” and Piazzolla’s “Tango” Suite--both dedicated to the Assads--the drabness and note-heavy nature of the music proved numbing.

Also numbing, but in the best sense of the word, was the polished technique of the players, who seemed to treat the most difficult piece as if it were a walk in the park. Their dazzling speed was never displayed at the expense of clarity or musicality.