MUSIC REVIEWS : SEGOVIA RECITAL AT AMBASSADOR

Few concert artists have aged as gracefully as Andres Segovia. At 94, the legendary Spanish guitarist makes no attempt to conceal or ignore whatever toll the years have taken on his skills.

At Ambassador Auditorium on Wednesday, he offered a brief, carefully chosen agenda that placed into sharp focus those qualities still at his command that have rightfully earned him a place of honor among the most important musicians of this century.

In an Andante and Minuet by Sor, Segovia’s fingers proved remarkably nimble in drawing out every ounce of charm from this salon piece. The expressiveness of his playing once again triumphed over the triviality of the music.

In a minuet from one of Haydn’s symphonies, the guitarist demonstrated the logic that has always prevailed in his many transcriptions. From one whose every step now seems to come with great effort, the Haydn emerged wondrously youthful and dancelike.

There was nothing overtaxing on the program: no treacherous tremolo pieces, no long sonatas that might sap his strength. In slightly more than an hour of playing, there were, for the most part, only moments to cherish.

If the A-minor Fugue by Bach failed to surge with the power others--including the younger Segovia--have demonstrated, his reading on Wednesday nonetheless remained contrapuntally clear. If a collection of short works by Tarrega was occasionally interrupted by smudged passages and quick tuning adjustments, the performance still retained integrity and direction.

Only in the concluding Fandanguillo of Turina--which concluded the recital after the guitarist inadvertently dropped it from the first half--did Segovia appear to tire. From the sureness of his hand movements, it was clear that the spirit was still willing, but the fingers were eager to call it a night.

An overflow crowd that had stood when the guitarist arrived rose again, applauding reverently--not cheering mindlessly--at the end as Segovia slowly moved to the wings, reappearing only briefly to wave farewell until next year.