Rio Manzanares, now a junior at Oberlin, delayed his “sophomore recital” until this Fall. He still will play a Junior Recital this coming spring. His recital, presented in our beloved old-world-sounding Fairchild Chapel, attracted a good-sized crowd of friends and well-wishers. I’d never heard him play better.

He opened with the charming Malbroug variations set of Fernando Sor, establishing immediately that he possesses a beautiful guitar sound.

He followed that with two Latin American favorites, Jorge Morel’s Danza Brasilera and Misionera. The audience responded with loud approval.

Next up, Rio played two Spanish chestnuts, Moreno Torroba’s Nocturno and Madroños. He’d really internalized the sound of this music. The audience ate it up. The program concluded with Roland Dyens’ Songe Capricorne. It came off without a hitch and made a serene, evocative ending to a very enjoyable concert.

Congratulations, Rio, for a fine second concert at Oberlin. We in the audience heard the progress made since the last one and know that great things are coming!