Musique du Jour Presents: The Artistry of Michael Partington, Romantic guitar
$25 / $15 / kids free w/adult
Johann Kaspar Mertz — Elegie for Guitar
Mauro Giuliani — Le Giulianate Op. 148
Ludwig van Beethoven — Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-flat major, Op. 26
Ludwig van Beethoven — Septet in E-flat major, Op. 20
Vincenz Schuster — Selected works
Yuri Diakof — Selected works
Michael Partington, classical guitar
Alex Dunn, classical guitar
Mauro Giuliani – Selections from Le Giulianate, Op. 148
Johann Kaspar Mertz – Elégie
Beethoven – Variations Favorites tirées du Grand Septour, Op. 20 (arr. Vincenz Schuster)
Beethoven – Andante favorite tirée dun Quator, Op. 59 No. 3 (arr. Schuster)
Beethoven – Andante con moto quasi allegretto (arr. Schuster)
Beethoven – Grande Sonata, Op. 26 (arr. Yuri Diakof)
Seattle's pre-eminent classical guitarist Michael Partington performs his only solo concert this season to celebrate his newest CD Potpourri, with selections of early Romantic music by Mauro Giuliani, Fernando Sor, and Johann Kaspar Mertz, and with guitarist Alexander Dunn in pieces by Beethoven.
THE CRITICS ON MICHAEL PARTINGTON
"Heartfelt and technically splendid... his playing was exquisite. An absolutely wonderful performance." Mike Shanahan, Seattle Classic Guitar Society
"From the beginning Michael showed complete control and delighted everyone with his interpretation ... flawless technique and musicianship." Glyn Edwards, South Wales Argus
"The success of his recital was due to the considerable technical and musical mastery which he brought to a varied and demanding programme ... warm tone, clear articulation with well-shaped melodic lines and finely controlled contrasts of dynamics and tone-colour ... impressive clarity and security." Chris Daly, Dorset Guitar Society (England)
THE INSTRUMENTS
The maker of Michael Partington’s six-string guitar (Mirecourt, ca. 1840) is unknown; his eight-string guitar is by Marcus Dominelli (Victoria BC, 2006), after Rene Lacote, (Paris ca. 1840).
Alex Dunn is playing a Berlin-style guitar with high upper register by Douglass Scott, (Ladysmith, BC, 2007).
THE MUSICIANS
Guitarist MICHAEL PARTINGTON is one of the most engaging of the new generation of concert players. Praised by Classical Guitar Magazine for his lyricism, intensity, and clear technical command, this award-winning British guitarist has performed internationally as a soloist and with ensembles to unanimous critical praise. Audiences are put at ease by his charming stage manner and captivated by his musical interpretations. His innate rhythmic understanding and sense for tonal color combine to form some of the most memorable phrasing to be heard on the guitar. Michael has appeared throughout the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, and Scandinavia in solo recitals, ensembles, and with orchestra. He has performed live on radio stations throughout the United States and the United Kingdom, including BBC Radio 3s In Tune, BBC Wales, and St. Paul Sunday on National Public Radio. He has released eight solo CDs for Rosewood Recordings and is currently an Artist-in-Residence and director of the guitar program at the University of Washington in Seattle.
To hear Michael: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkNQfvwnQXw
Internationally acclaimed Canadian classical guitarist ALEXANDER DUNN has performed to enthusiastic acclaim in Canada, the USA, Cuba, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Southeast Asia, China, South Africa, Western and Eastern Europe, and Russia. In solo recital, concerto, and chamber music he is consistently praised for his musicality, technique, and rich sound. Chamber music and recital performances include work with principal players from Tafelmusik, the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Seattle Baroque Orchestra, tenor Benjamin Butterfield, fortepianist Michael Jarvis, and with numerous other musicians. He has been a featured soloist with the CBC Vancouver Radio, Victoria, and Pacific Baroque Orchestras, the Winnipeg, La Jolla, and New England Symphonies, the Malaga Sinfonico, and many major US orchestras as guest artist with Los Romeros. He has appeared in duo recitals with Pepe Romero on a regular basis.
Alexr has performed feature recitals at numerous major music festivals, including the Aspen Music Festival, Vancouver's New Music Festival, Darmstadts Ferienkurs für Neue Musik, Salzburg's Sommerakademie der Hochschule Mozarteum, the International Guitar and Lute Institute, the Stetson International Guitar Workshop, Guitar Foundation of America International Conference, the Northwest Guitar Festival, the Parch (Mexico) Festival de Guitarra, the Vancouver Festival, the Early Music Society of the Islands, the CBC Festival de Printemps, the Zihuatenejo International Guitar Festival, the Boston GuitarFest, the Appalachian Guitar Festival, and many others. He has collaborated with numerous musicians on nineteenth-century instruments and is regarded as one of the finest performers on period guitars. Mr. Dunn heads one of Canadas the guitar programs at the University of Victoria and the Victoria Conservatory of Music.
To hear Alex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1FX5HepQic
Tickets: $25 (general admission/senior), $15 (youth, ages 16–25), kids free (ages 7-15, one-on-one with adults)