Musician's Challenges

Those are flashy showpieces that test how fast someone can move their fingers rather than pieces that show the depth and breadth of an artist's interpretative mind and soul. There are countless pieces for the guitar that afford the opportunity to express one's musicality over simple virtuosity. Of course a good artist will always find a way to put the music over the technique.

I would recommend pieces on the order of:

Britten--Nocturnal (check out Julian Bream)
Bach--D minor Ciaccona for violin or any lute suite (Eliot Fisk)
Ponce--Sonata III or Variations on La Folia (Andres Segovia)
Granados--La Maja de Goya (Oscar Ghiglia)

Regarding the pieces you mention, I'm a fan of Ana V. but I'd go with
1. Recuerdos--Segovia EMI recording
2. La Cateral--John Williams
3. Las Abejaz--Eliot Fisk

Thanks for the chance to give my 2 cents' worth.

Segovia put a personal stamp on the music he played--sometimes for the better, other times not so. But you knew it was him. There is little to distinguish most of the players younger than Barrueco and Fisk. The playing is clean as a whistle but totally unremarkable. I've heard both the players, live and on recordings, and they are top-flight guitarists. Musically they are not among my favorites. Segovia is almost always interesting. Better than 90 percent of the other available classical guitarists are almost never interesting. Other than simply checking someone out, why waste my time with the others?
FWIW, among the "younger set" I like Ana Vidovic, Lorenzo Michele, and, especially, Jorge Caballero. As an older and experienced listener (and something of a player myself), I feel that those three "get it."

So we're agreeing that the words "quality of the musician," in this context, means "chops?"

I was hoping this was going to be about musicianship and not athleticism.

You need to separate technique and musicality. Listen to the Segovia EMI recordings and his Decca sides from the 50's. Tell me which players today are as compelling.

Yes, the old-school hand positions are problematic and should not be used. But that doesn't mean the player can't be musical--just listen to Barrueco's Albeniz/Granados album (now available in a VoxBox set) or Williams playing Ponce. Those guys will likely be playing well into their 80's. And it will be worth listening to. Unlike most of the totally unremarkable pristine performances being offered at present. I have utmost respect for the work these people have put into their craft but please don't force me to listen to it when their are better (IMO) alternatives).