Presented by The Elder Conservatorium Of Music
Reviewed: 1 June 2016
The Elder Conservatorium of Music’s Guitarissimo drew a respectable crowd on the crisp and rain-spattered first night of winter. Mr Oliver Fartach-Naini, Head of Classical Guitar at the Conservatorium, briefly greeted the audience, praising the calibre of his students.
The first half of the program saw selections from Joaquin Rodrigo and Máximo Diego Pujol, both influential composers of the twentieth century. With these composers guiding the talented students, a lively Latin ambience was quickly created within the formal Elder Hall.
The second half was more classical, with offerings from the Romantic Agustín Barrios Mangoré and J S Bach. Bach’s piece was taken from his famous Violin Sonata BWV 1001. While beautifully performed, it sounded a little alien to those familiar with the original. The second half of the evening also featured original compositions by some of the students.
Each piece clearly illustrated the performers’ talents, though it was impossible to ignore several moments of struggle – especially in the first half of the evening. Most of the students lacked professional performance experience, so perhaps these mistakes were due to nerves. While the stage held seats ready for an ensemble, every piece was either solo or duet until the finale. This created somewhat of an isolating effect on stage, which was not helped by the occasional intrusion of street sounds from North Terrace.
Ultimately, Guitarissimo showcased emerging talent from the Conservatorium and celebrated classical guitar above all things. It was an enjoyable student performance.
Reviewed by Nicola Woolford
One night only
More News
