Guitar Houston 2008-2009 Concert Season

This year's concert season will feature an elite line-up of internationally recognized and prestigious concert artists. Also we will have master classes, artist receptions, and more!

Please see the bottom of this page for ticket information.

Master Classes will be on Sunday the day after the concerts.

Katona Twins

Concert Saturday 10/11/08, 8 PM, at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church (click for directions...).

Master Class Sunday 10/12/08

" ..the delicate Perfection of the Katonas' playing electrified the music. The intense ensemble between the Katonas is irresistible."
- The Times London

"...virtuosos who play with an almost eerie unanimity of style and considerable charm."
-The New Yorker, June 2002

"Rarely have I heard such dynamism."
-Classical Guitar Magazine

"The Hungarian born Katona Twins, Peter and Zoltan, have given recitals throughout the world including performances at the Carnegie Hall in New York; the Purcell Room of the Royal Festival Hall and Wigmore Hall in London; the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam; the Konzerthaus in Vienna ,the Suntory Hall in Tokyo; the Forbidden City in Beijing; the Alte Oper in Frankfurt and the Philharmonie in Cologne.

The twins have won numerous prizes, both individually and together. In 2004 they were awarded, with the prestigious Borletti-Buitoni prize, the first guitarist in the trust's history. In 1998 they won the Concert Artists Guild Competition held in New York thereby securing management throughout the USA; tours soon followed as did their Carnegie Hall debut. In 1997 they were winners at the Young Concert Artist Trust auditions in London and that brought with it London based worldwide management; in the same year they successfully auditioned for the Park Lane contemporary music group. Earlier in their careers the twins won the S.T. Johnson Foundation prize in 1995 and The Laura Ashley prize in 1996. In 1993 they won first prize at the most prestigious guitar duo competition in Montelimar, France. In the same year Peter & Zoltan won first prize at the international guitar duo competition held in Bubenreuth, Germany and were awarded the Cultural Prize of the City of Kassel, Germany. The wide repertoire of the duo spans from Scarlatti to Piazzolla's tango music. Their programmes also include concertos for two guitars and orchestra by Rodrigo, Vivaldi, Piazzolla and Tedesco. Michael Berkeley, Judith Bingham, Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez and several other contemporary composers have written for and dedicated works to the Katona Twins.

From the age of ten the twins have studied both individually and as a guitar duo in Budapest, Frankfurt and at the Royal Academy of Music in London. During their studies they benefitted from classes with Julian Bream and John Williams.

The Katona Twins have been invited on numerous occasions to record for the BBC and other international television and radio stations. Their CD releases include music by Scarlatti and Handel; Rodrigo; Albeniz and pieces by Piazzolla, Granados, de Falla and Mozart."

Ricardo Cobo

"The Colombian guitarist Ricardo Cobo may be one of the finest guitarists of our time..." - The Washington Post 7/25/06

"Cobo's tone is velvet, his technique seems to have no limitations, and his guitar can be as big and brassy or as soft and expressive as he wishes." -Soundboard Magazine

Guitar Houston is pleased to sponsor internationally acclaimed concert and recording artist Ricardo Cobo in our concert season. Ricardo Cobo is without a doubt one of the top performers today that you won't want to miss. This is his third appearance for Guitar Houston.

Concert Saturday 11/08/08, 8 PM, at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church (click for directions...).

Master Class Sunday 11/09/08

For more information about Ricardo Cobo, view the artist website:

BIO and REVIEWS: www.RicardoCobo.com

Ricardo Cobo

Marcin Dylla

Guitar Houston is pleased to sponsor from Poland, the up and coming virtuoso and multiple international guitar competition winner Marcin Dylla. Marcin won first prize in the world's premier competition, at the Guitar Foundation of America in 2007. By many music critics and music lovers, Marcin Dylla is considered one of the most outstanding classical guitar players. He owes this position, among others, to unparalleled number of awards at musical competitions. In 1996-2007 19 times he won the first prize at the most prestigious international guitar contests taking place in Europe and in the USA.

Many times he was honored by awards of the audience and orchestras, with which he performed. In 2002 at the 7th International Guitar Convent in Alessandria, Marcin Dylla was also granted a "gold guitar" musical critic's award for the best coming young guitar player.

For more information about Marcin Dylla, view the artist website:

Marcin Dylla

Marcin Dylla

Concert Saturday 1/17/09, 8 PM, at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church (click for directions...).

Concert Program

Sonata Romantica (Hommage to F. Schubert) by M. M. Ponce (1882-1948)

Music of Memory by Nicholas Maw (b.1935)

Intermission

Rossiniana 1 by Mauro Giuliani (1781-1982)

Variations on a Theme by Scriabin by Aleksander Tansman (1897-1986)

Tres piezas españolas by Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999)

Master Class Sunday 1/18/09
 Sunday, January 18, 2-4 p.m.

At Cezanne's, 4100 Montrose at Richmond, upstairs from the Black Lab.

Quaternaglia Brazilian Guitar Quartet

Quaternaglia Guitar Quartet "Quaternaglia's performances thrill with their subtleties, their orchestral energy and transparence in addition to the Brazilian swing. A fantastic ensemble".
PAULO BELLINATI (Brazil)

"Purity of guitar sounds shines through Brazil's Quaternaglia."
SUSAN BLISS, LOS ANGELES TIMES (USA)

"Not a note was out of place all evening, and every nuance of interpretation was together."
FORT WORTH STAR TELEGRAM (USA)

For more information about Quaternaglia, view the artist website:

http://www.quaternaglia.com.br/

Back by popular demand, Guitar Houston is pleased to bring back the dynamic and spirited Quaternaglia quartet from Brazil.

Concert Saturday 2/7/09, 8 PM, at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church (click for directions...).

Master Class Sunday 2/8/09

Margarita Escarpa

Guitar Houston is pleased to sponsor the critically-aclaimed performer and recording artist Margarita Escarpa.

"... exquisite recital, with an unusually beautiful sound and a mastery of musical nuance ... Her music is clear, uncluttered, romantic, penetrating to the inner recesses and giving exquisite delight. " - COLIN COOPER, CLASSICAL GUITAR MAGAZINE 1997

Concert Saturday 3/21/09, 8 PM, at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church (click for directions...).

Master Class Sunday 3/22/09

For more information about Margarita Escarpa:

http://www.MargaritaEscarpa.com

Margarita Escarpa

Concert Program

-In Homage to Francisco Tárrega commemorating the 100th anniversary of his passing -

Francisco Tarrega (1852-1909):
Three Preludes
" Endecha (Sad Song)
" Oremus
" Prelude in A minor (dedicated to Miguel Llobet)

Gavota (Maria)

Two Mazurkas
" Mazurka in G major
" Adelita

Capricho Árabe

Hector Villa-lobos (1887-1959):
Tristorosa *

Isaac Albeniz (1860- 1909):
Granada *
Córdoba *
Cataluña *

--Intermission--

J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
Sonata n.1 BWV 1001*:
" Adagio,
" Fuga,
" Siciliano,
" Presto

Ronaldo Miranda (1948):
Appassionata

Fantasía sobre "La Traviata" de Verdi - Julian Arcas (1832-1882), arr. Francisco Tarrega

* Transcriptions: Margarita Escarpa

"
- Francisco Tárrega (1852-1909):
Francisco Tárrega y Eixea was born in Villarreal (Castellón de la Plana) on the 21st of November 1852. He was one of the most influential guitarists/ composers of his time. Tarrega´s work helped to establish the guitar as an instrument suitable for the concert stage. He is widely regarded as the father of modern guitar technique. It is said that Andrés Segovia, perhaps the most influential figure in the development of the modern classical guitar, heard several of Tarrega's preludes when he was 12, and was so impressed that he decided to learn "that music" immediately which helped to enlarge his early repertoire.

Many of Tárregas´ compositions are lovely miniatures, mostly representing the aesthetics of the "música de salón" of the period. They are very inspired and written with professionalism and are well adapted to the instrument. This is the case with the pieces in tonight's program. They are completely original except for the second prelude, Oremus, which is based on "Phantasietanz", a piano work composed by Schumann in 1836. Tárrega wrote this prelude two weeks before his death, the 15th of December 1909 in Barcelona (It is interesting to note that Tarrega planned to hear 16 year old Andres Segovia give his first public performance of note in 1909, but unfortunately died before the performance).

It is natural that a few of Tarrega's works, including his most famous works, such as "Capricho Árabe", "Recuerdos de La Alhambra", "Danza Mora" and "Danza Odalisca", should combine new and surprising sounds representing the Moorist tradition which is so much a part of Spanish culture. Isaac Albeniz was another composer who, although more famous in the Western Musical world, represented this tradition with works such as; "Granada", "Zambra Granadina", "La Alhambra" and "Serenata Arabe", that he wrote for piano.

- Heitor Villa-lobos (1887-1959)
Villa-lobos wrote "Tristorosa" when he was 23 years old under the nickname "Epaminondas Villalba Filho". Originally for piano, this piece is a rondo with a slow waltz rhythm, a beautiful melody and a guitar-like accompaniment that indicates that it was probably inspired by the guitar. Villa-lobos had learned the guitar at seven or eight, and he composed more than fifty works for this instrument. He met Andrés Segovia at a musical soiree in a private home in Paris where Villa-lobos played the guitar to show Segovia that a piece that he called impossible to play, was indeed playable. Segovia admitted "Villa-lobos knows the guitar extremely well".

- Isaac Albéniz (1860- 1909)
If Tárrega was the father of the modern guitar, Felipe Pedrell (1841-1922) -a good friend of Tárrega and teacher of Albéniz has been described as the father of Spanish music. Pedrell was a teacher, composer, and musicologist who had done a considerable amount of research of old Spanish music. An ardent nationalist, it was his conviction that Spanish composers should write "Spanish" music, i.e., music rooted in Spanish culture, acquiring its idiom and techniques from native folk songs and dances. Because the guitar was involved in almost all folk music, composers started to look at it from a different point of view and imitated its strumming technique, open string harmonic possibilities and rhythms. This, indirectly, gave a big impulse to elevate the guitar to the status of a well-established instrument for the playing of "art music".

Albéniz, one of the most significant pianists and piano composers of the XIX century, met Pedrell in 1883, who inspired him to write Spanish music such as the "Suite Española, Op. 47". The fifth movement of that suite, called "Asturias" (also known as Leyenda which means 'legend'), is probably most famous these days as part of the classical guitar repertoire, even though it was originally composed for piano and only later transcribed to guitar. Many of his other compositions were also adapted to the guitar, notably by Francisco Tárrega. Albéniz once declared that he preferred Tárrega's guitar transcriptions to his original piano works, maybe because all his music is infected with the effects that emulate the guitar's music and technique. In this concert you´ll hear three of Albeniz´s works that are most enjoyed by the musical public.

- Johan Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Bach never wrote for the guitar, (the Baroque guitar was a much different instrument from that which is seen today). However many of his works are perfectly suitable for the contemporary instrument and are now regarded as part of the guitar repertoire. Many of the guitarists-composers, such as Tárrega, LLobet, Barrios and Andrés Segovia, have transcribed or composed works inspired by Bach´s music. In fact, Bach's music for violin and cello without accompaniment has been subject to an almost constant series of transcriptions, a process initiated by Bach himself and continued by lute and keyboard players of the period. Later arrangements have appeared for almost any instrument, even for orchestra. These facts are signs of the longevity and adaptability of Bach's music. The transcription of the Sonata in today´s program is mainly based on the violin version, but I also used Bach's versions for the lute and organ. The transcription criteria has been to respect the original, but keeping in mind the marvellous possibilities of the guitar in order to take advantage of the harmonic and contrapuntal capabilities of the instrument.

- Ronaldo Miranda (1948)
Ronaldo Miranda is a prolific composer born in 1948 in the city of Rio de Janeiro. "Appassionata", dedicated to the Brazilian guitarist Turibio Santos, is his only solo guitar work. Composed in 1984, it had to wait until 1996 for its premiere. I think you will find that this is a marvelous and vigorous piece, full of contrasts, and largely indebted to the late-Romantic pianistic tradition. You will also hear the Brazilian style of delicious harmonies and wonderful rhythms.

- Francisco Tárrega (La Traviata)
The work of Tárrega is based on two aspects: development of a broader technical usage of the guitar in the adaptation of works or the creation of new works. He frequently used well-known themes to elaborate his compositions, such as in this Fantasy, based on Verdi´s "La Traviata".

This piece presents a curious problem: Who actually composed it? It was published and attributed to Francisco Tárrega, but when he was 10 years old the very well-known guitarist Julián Arcas was already playing this piece in concerts. Plagiarism? Editors´ confusion? Polemics apart, Tárrega´s version presents some slight differences but with a more romantic approach than Arcas´s transcription. On the other hand, it is very significant that the piece started to be more appreciated after being attributed to Tárrega, and is part of the guitarists' repertoire to this day. "

2008-2009 Concert Season

The Guitar Houston Concert Season brings you established, top-tier artists who are recognized at an international level. All the artists selected for the Concert Season have won at least one major guitar competition, have production CD releases, major press reviews, and an established concert career. Whereas the open meetings and Salon Concert series will feature up-and-coming artists or local talent, the Concert Season is a guaranteed level of premium quality.

Concert tickets will be sold individually at the show and at Guitar Houston events. Tickets can be purchased in advance by contacting the phone # and email addresses below. As always, the concert ticket price is kept as low as possible to break even on the event. GH ticket prices are generally half the amount paid at commercial events. Guitar Houston is a non-profit organization, and we pass this savings on to you.

If you are not yet a member of GH, now is the perfect time to join and save money on the concert season and enjoy the other membership benefits, as well as to support the mission of GH to enhance the classical guitar presence in Houston.

Guitar Houston Season Ticket Benefits:

Ticket Prices

As a non-profit organization, Guitar Houston offers unbeatable low ticket prices for high quality concerts.

Single ticket prices for Cobo, Dylla, Escarpa are as follows:

$ 22 (Individual)
$ 18 (GH Member)
$ 15 (Student or Child)

Katona Twins single ticket prices are:

$ 25 (Individual)
$ 22 (GH Member)
$ 18 (Student or Child)

Quaternaglia single ticket prices are:

$ 30 (Individual)
$ 25 (GH Member)
$ 20 (Student or Child)

Season Tickets

The price for the entire concert season is only $90 per person for Guitar Houston members, and only $110 for non-members. The season ticket provides admission to all 5 concerts in our season with preferred seating.

Information, Ticket Sales, Master Class & Private Lesson slots:

Contact Joe Hanlon at 713-665-2712 for ticket reservations.

A $2 processing fee will be applied for mailing tickets, or you may arrange to get them in person. We can take credit card orders by telephone. Tickets may be purchased by mailing a personal check payable to Guitar Houston; mailing address is:

Guitar Houston c/o Joe Hanlon
4149 Bellaire Blvd #229
Houston, TX 77025

Please enclose in your envelope the address where the tickets are to be forwarded and the number of tickets and events requested. The "will call" tickets are the price indicated on this web site. There will be a $2 postage and handling fee per order to mail the tickets.

For additional information, contact Joe Hanlon at 713-665-2712.

Lessons and Master Classes:

Master classes are usually arranged with all the artists in the concert season. The classes will occur the day following the concert. The exact time and location will be announced later for each class.

It is not every day that you have an opportunity to study with world-class performers. Why not learn from the very best? Guitar Houston is very committed to providing opportunities for players at all levels to sign up for master classes or private lessons with our concert artists for a very reasonable price. Contact Guitar Houston if you are interested in studying with these great artists. Season ticket holders will have preference in booking reservations - but once Guitar Houston receives your check, your slot is guaranteed. Sign up early to avoid missing out!

You can also "audit" the master class as a non-participant observer. These classes can be very informative.

Admission Policy and Concert Etiquette

The nature of classical recitals is such that all audience noise must be kept to a minimum so that everyone can enjoy the show. Since classical guitar is not a very loud instrument comparatively, this is even more important to remove distractions. One noisy patron can ruin the experience of many others. Often the patron does not realize how loud they are being; in a quiet room, even small sounds carry. We ask:

All ticket sales are final. GH reserves the right to remove any patron who creates a disturbance and refuses to heed advisements.

2007-2008 Concert Season Venue

The concerts are at the Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church at 1900 Bering Drive. Their website directions are at this URL: http://emersonhouston.org/how/directions.html.

The easiest way to get there from 610 is to take the San Felipe exit and turn left on Bering, and the building is on the right.

All concert performances are at 8 pm.

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