It is with great sadness that I write about the Spanish classical guitarist MANUEL BABILONI, who died unexpectedly on Monday 11 May 2015, while at home, playing his guitar. Manuel Babiloni was born in Castellón, Spain, into a musical family in 1959. He was initially taught the guitar by his father, Manuel Babiloni Alicart, and…
The Cuban composer, conductor and guitarist LEO BROUWER was in London to attend the première of his Sonata Ars Combinatoria No. 5, performed by the young guitarist Andrey Lebedev at St John’s, Smith Square on 4 December 2014. This Julian Bream Trust concert featured a second première – Construction with Guitar Player: Beyond the White Hand by Harrison…
The British guitar-maker PAUL FISCHER supposedly retired recently from guitar making, however, he is still maintaining a rather high profile as a guitar-maker. This year, 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of death of Winston Churchill, and part of the celebrations of his life have included celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Winston…
The WOLFGANG MUTHSPIEL TRIO was featured in Claire Martin’s Jazz Line-Up programme on BBC Radio 3 on Saturday 21 March 2015. The programme is available to listen again. This live performance of Wolfgang Muthspiel’s ‘American’ Trio, featuring Larry Grenadier on double bass and Brian Blade on drums, was recorded at the Vienna Konzerthaus, in 2014 by Austrian radio. In September…
TEN YEARS have passed now since guitarist Milton Mermikides had his successful bone marrow transplant. This London concert is a celebration of his survival and all the proceeds will go to support leukaemia charities. The list of performers is LONG and includes John Williams, Craig Ogden, Gary Ryan, John Wheatcroft, Milton Mermikides, Bridget Mermikides, Amanda Cook, Peter Gregson, Steve…
FRANZ SCHUBERT (1797–1828) was a prolific composer of songs, setting the poetry of Goethe (1749–1832), Heine (1797–1856), Müller (1794–1827), Schiller (1759–1805), Schlegel (1767–1845) and many others, mostly for voice with piano accompaniment. Although there are some depictions of Schubert with a guitar in hand and his connection with the guitar still much debated*, what is…
FRANK MARTIN’s chamber music will be featured in a concert on Thursday 5 March 2015 at the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música in Madrid. The concert ‘Frank Martin y la Guitarra’ – Música de Cámara 1933–1969, which has been organised in collaboration with the Escuela Superior de Canto de Madrid, will begin with Frank Martin’s only work…
GRESHAM COLLEGE is London’s oldest Higher Education Institution; it was founded in 1597, and since then has been providing free public lectures. In September 2014 Professor Christopher Page was appointed Gresham Professor of Music. During his first year in the role, he will give a series of six lectures on ‘Men, Women and Guitars in…
JASON VIEAUX’s recording Play has won the ‘Best Classical Instrumental Solo’ prize at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, held on 8 February 2015 at Staples Center, Los Angeles. The nominees in the category of ‘Best Classical Instrumental Solo’ were announced on 5 December 2014: Play Jason Vieaux (Azica Records); All The Things You Are Leon Fleisher (Bridge Records); The Carnegie Recital Daniil Trifonov…
DAVID RUSSELL will soon be in the United Kingdom to perform recitals and give masterclasses, organised by International Guitar Foundation (IGF). On Thursday 29 January 2015 he will perform at St George’s Bristol and on Saturday 31 January 2015 he will perform at the Milton Court Concert Hall, Guildhall School, London. His programme includes Fantasia III in F…
