Robert Bekkers on Spanish Guitar at Wild Child Chocolate

Capriccio Arabe Francisco Tarrega
Granada, Isaac Albeniz
Cataluña, Isaac Albeniz
Sevilla, Isaac Albeniz
Cadiz, Isaac Albeniz
Asturias Isaac Albeniz
Fandanguillo Joaquin Turina
-intermission-
Variations on a theme by Mozart, F. Sor
Rossiniana Nr 1. Mauro Giuliani

The first half of my program is all Spanish music as an ode to the Summer past. Tarrega was a prodigy who studied piano but changed to guitar. Albeniz never wrote a single note of guitar music but his Spanish national style suits the instrument well. Turina wrote in a more contemporary Spanish style and is a nice conclusion of this set. Fernando Sor, also a Spaniard is often referred to as the Beethoven of the guitar. His variations on a song from the Magic Flute are exemplary of his style and the early 19th century guitar music in general. Mauro Giuliani, trained as a cellist but also as guitarist, moved to Vienna where he lived and worked for 11 years, while leaving behind a wife and daughter. He wrote is Rossiniana based on music from operas from Rossini, whom he met in Naples on his way back to south-Italy.