The guitar is Spain’s great gift to classical music, and its repertoire constitutes some of the most characteristic and sumptuous music of Iberia and Latin America. The London Classical Guitar Festival, now in its second year, is a Festival unique in the UK, which takes the guitar back to its origins as the definitive Latin instrument, with a feast of music from Spain, Portugal and Latin America, performed by some of the most talked-about young guitarists of the moment from both sides of the Atlantic.
Thanks to our sponsors entry to all concerts is free but you are advised to arrive at venue early to avoid disappointment, some reservations are available for ILAMS members.
http://www.ilams.org.uk/concerts.htm
'Guitarra y mujer': Here Come the Girls
Amanda Cook, Daniela Rossi and Farsa Monea
Wednesday 16 September 7.30pm
Bolívar Hall,
54 & 58 Grafton Way, London W1T 5DL
Nearest Tube: Warren Street (Northern Line)
‘La guitarra es como una mujer; cuando crees que la dominas, es cuando te demuestra lo contrario’ Paco de Lucía (‘The guitar is like a woman; just when you think you have managed to master her, she proves you wrong.’)
Women have been compared to guitars since the instrument first existed, as objects of sensitive temperament, to be played, touched and caressed – by men alone. The Latin Classical Guitar Festival kicks off with an all-female line-up from both sides of the Atlantic who will prove to you that, to the contrary, the guitar is the definitive female instrument.
Programme includes Rodrigo, Dowland, Piazzolla, de León, Perelló, Gardel, Matamoros, Scarlatti, Torroba and Bardi
Amanda Cook (UK)
'Her touch has silken smoothness...but she packs great power...quite remarkable' The IndependentAmanda Cook has performed live on BBC Radio 3 on In Tune and Woman's Hour and is emerging as one of the leading UK guitarists of her generation. After a recent sell-out concert at the Wigmore Hall, she has just released her long-awaited second album Strictly Latin.
Daniela Rossi (Argentina)
Virtuoso Argentine guitarist Daniela Rossi returns to the London Classical Guitar Festival by popular demand, offering more of her authentic guitangos by Piazzolla.
Farsa Monea (Spain/UK)
Farsa Monea is a fresh and vibrant ensemble that bring new life to the Spanish copla, a form of traditional Spanish music from the 1940s, in their own unique arrangements for guitar, voice and percussion.
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Christian Saggese (Italy):
Latin Guitar Masters on 10 Strings
Thursday 17 September
7.30pm
Bolívar Hall, 54 & 58 Grafton Way,
London W1T 5DL
Nearest Tube: Warren Street (Northern Line)
’...among the best European guitarists of the moment’ El País, SpainWinner of various international competitions, including the Andrés Segovia competition in Spain, Saggese makes his London solo debut, transposing the compositions of Villa-Lobos, Ginastera and Gismonti with virtuosic bravado to the 10-string guitar. A rare opportunity for audiences to hear well-known Latin works performed on a very special instrument.
Programme includes Aguado, Turina, Gismonti, Villa-Lobos, Paco de Lucía and Ginastera.
________________________________________________________ Commemorating the Tárrega CentenaryFernando Espí (guitar), with pre-concert talk by Walter Aaron Clark
Friday 18 September,
7.30pm Pre-concert Talk;
8.45pm Concert Bolívar Hall,
54 & 58 Grafton Way, London W1T 5DL
Nearest Tube: Warren Street (Northern Line)
‘Fernando Espí adopts a historically informed approach. The results are sometimes beautiful, sometimes exciting...’GramophoneFrancisco Tárrega (1852-1909) is rightly regarded as the patriarch of the modern classical guitar. He was a superb virtuoso, a very influential teacher, a gifted composer, and he was also a prolific transcriber and arranger of music for the guitar. Valencian compatriot of Tárrega Fernando Espí is Spain's greatest Tárrega specialist, having recorded the complete works on the Verso label.
Espi will be offering offers an overview of Tárrega’s various facets, from monumental works such as the Recuerdos de la Alhambra to some of his lesser-known gems. His recital is introduced by American musicologist Walter Clark who is known worldwide for his major biographies of Spanish composers and guitar repertoire scholarship.
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Dickinson’s Real Cuban Deal: Tribute to Ñico Rojas
Ahmed Dickinson, guitar (Cuba) & Hammadi Rencurrell, percussion (Cuba)
Wednesday 23 September, 7.30pmBolívar Hall,
54 & 58 Grafton Way,
London W1T 5DLNearest Tube: Warren Street (Northern Line)
‘Dickinson is clearly a real find.’ Songlines MagazineHighly acclaimed Cuban artist Ahmed Dickinson pays homage to Ñico Rojas, one of the greats of the 'Filin' era, in this special London Latin Classical Guitar Festival appearance.
Combining traditional Cuban rhythms and classical genres, with harmonies deeply penetrated by jazz. Ahmed's refined guitar playing, accompanied by fellow Cuban percussionist Hammadi Rencurrell, bring the sounds of 50's bohemian Havana to London. Programme includes a selection of songs by Rojas from his debut album Ahmed Dickinson Plays Ñico Rojas, plus songs by Eduardo Martín.
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‘En Homenaje’: Morgan Szymanski and Guillaume Lacoste
Thursday 24 September 7.30pm
Bolívar Hall, 54 & 58 Grafton Way, London W1T 5DL
Nearest Tube: Warren Street (Northern Line)
‘Nothing is more beautiful than a guitar, save perhaps two.’ Frédéric Chopin2009 is an exceptionally busy year for Latin composer anniversaries, and several of these are brought together in a new collaboration between the UK's most gifted guitarist, YCAT winner Morgan Szymanski and Chilean-French guitarist Guillaume Lacoste, commemorating the life and works of Albéniz (100 years of death), Tárrega (100 years of death), Rodrigo (ten years of death), and the 60th and 70th birthdays of Jorge Cardoso and Leo Brouwer, plus works by Falla, Cordero and Bellinati.
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Gala Concert
Friday 25 September 7.30pm
Bolívar Hall, 54 & 58 Grafton Way, London W1T 5DL
Nearest Tube: Warren Street (Northern Line)
An exciting selection of the Festival artists are joined by some very special guests, followed by wine reception. Artists include: Farsa Monea, Ahmed Dickinson, Amanda Cooke, Morgan Szymanski & Guillaume Lacoste, and Daniela Rossi.For more information on this and all concerts see:
http://www.ilams.org.uk/concerts.htm_
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‘Perspectives on Joaquín Rodrigo Ten Years after his Death’Lecture by Graham Wade
Thursday 1 October 7.30pm
Canning House, 2 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8JP
Graham Wade is the undisputed expert on the life and works of Joaquín Rodrigo, both in the UK and worldwide. A regular author of programme and liner notes on the composer, Wade’s research culminated in his book Joaquín Rodrigo: Travelling to Aranjuez (Press). In his talk, Wade will examine Rodrigo’s position ten years after his death, and will discuss the 21st century future of this consummately 20th-century artist. Lecture Tickets: £6(£4 for ILAMS members)________________________________________________________
‘Aranjuez mon amour’:The Life and Music of Joaquín Rodrigo in his Own Words’narrated by Cecilia Rodrigo with Carlos Bonell on guitar
Wednesday 7 October 7.30pm
Canning House, 2 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8JP
Cecilia Rodrigo introduces and reads a fascinating collection of letters and essays written by her father, composer Joaquin Rodrigo, with a script compiled by guitarist Carlos Bonell. Together with Bonell playing music by Falla, Sanz, Sainz de la Maza and Rodrigo himself, the presentation will include letters to some of Spain’s leading artists of the last century, including to Segovia, Mompou, and Manuel de Falla, and his future wife Victoria K.
The letters reveal a personal and artistic struggle to find success and satisfaction, and are a vivid evocation of the turbulent times which Joaquin Rodrigo’s long life (1901-1999) encompassed.
Carlos Bonell, is one of the UK's most prominent guitarists, he studied at the Royal College of Music with John Williams, where he was appointed the youngest ever professor in 1972. He gained prominence in 1981 through his recording for Decca of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. He has made more than 20 LP, CD and DVD recordings, received a Grammy nomination, and has been awarded the prestigious Spanish prize Premio Trujamán
Recital/Lecture Tickets: £15 (£10 for ILAMS members)
The Bromley based Widmore Guitar Ensemble is looking for new members.
