Neil Smith: live concert playing Albeniz, Tansman, Tedesco, Segovia, & Turina

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Another musician who is one of a kind – from “up North”, Neil was music editor for Classical Guitar for many years, and has been on the circuit for over thirty years.
His early studies took place in Manchester and London with Duarte and then later at Toronto University, Canada with Alirio Diaz and Leo Brouwer. On his return to the UK, he made his Wigmore debut.
He followed this with tours and Proms Concerts with some of our finest orchestras and conductors including the CBSO under Sir Simon Rattle, the SNO under Sir Alexander Gibson and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 1982, he took part in a Royal Gala weekend at the new Barbican Hall in London, becoming the first guitarist to play Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez in this great hall.
Not only has he played in such distinguished venues; he has also played for His Highness Sheikh Maktoum in Arabia and for His Excellency the Spanish Ambassador, H.E. the Colombian Ambassador and H.E. the Israeli Ambassador in addition to the film-star Elizabeth Taylor in Rome and a special recital for a Soviet tank division at the castle of Attila the Hun!

Many thanks to selftaughtgirl

Omega Guitar Quartet: studio concert playing Ravel, Dvorak, Carpenter, & Milhaud

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The Omega Guitar Quartet, in its third incarnation, sans founding members Gilbert Biberian or Greg Pikler. The Quartet was instrumental in commissioning works from new composers and putting guitar ensemble on the 20th century guitar map.

When the Omega Quartet was formed in 1969, chamber music for guitars alone was scarce.
Biberian founded the Omega Players, out of which grew the quartet.
As ever, thanks to selftaughtgirl

More airline horror

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From Norman Lebrecht’s great blog Slipped Disc

Chris Wilke

If it’s not the Customs, it’s the US airlines. This message was in from the Lute List:

Hello all,
Last night the soundboard of my 13-course lute was completely smashed after being valet-checked on a flight. (It just happened to be my birthday. Thanks Delta.)
Dr. Christopher Wilke D.M.A.
Lutenist, Guitarist and Composer
www.christopherwilke.com

There is now an UPDATE, which is an even grimmer tale, here.

 

John Williams: The Guitarist

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“This site is not about John Williams the film composer.
Try the John Williams Fan Network.
John Williams is not involved in any way with this site.
We are not directly in contact with each other. See the F.A.Q. for more information.” -Richard Sliwa

Nevertheless, this site has more information on John Williams the guitarist than you might ever need to know!
An interesting history of JW from his beginnings as a young guitarist to the publication of his biography “Strings Attached”, to his retirement through the most interesting era in the classical guitar’s evolution.
A fascinating read indeed.

Gregg Nestor: studio concert playing Ponce, Berkeley, Albeniz, Dodgson, & Gershwin

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I first met Gregg in 1982, and was impressed by his huge collection of guitar arrangements and transcriptions which he used to keep in the top drawer of his clothes cupboard. I remember he had unusual pieces such as “Teddy Bear’s Picnic Variations”, “Annie get your gun”, “Children’s Corner” by Debussy, “Gershwiniana”, motley pieces by Poulenc and numerous other titles, expertly arranged for nimble fingers.
I heard from him again recently, and if you are interested in the sort of music he has to offer, drop him a line at http://www.greggnestorguitar.com

Thanks again, selftaughtgirl for this trip down memory lane.