International Summer Music
Concert 2

Morgan Szymanski guitar

Saturday 11 July 7.30pm

Mauro Giuliani     Grand Overture, Op61

Antonio Lauro     4 Waltzes

Agustin Barrios Mangore Vals Op8 No 4
                                            Una Limosna por el Amor de Dios
                                           Maxixe

Isaac Albeniz    Asturias (Suite Espanola)
   
Alec Roth    The Unicorn in the Garden

Alec Roth    Cat Dances
- Javanese Cat - Egyptian Cat - Jeffrey - Cheshire Cat

Simone Iannarelli    From 'Italian Coffee'
- L'Ultimo Caffe' Insieme - Tarde de Lluvia con Cafe - American Coffee

Paulo Bellinati   Jongo

Biography  |   Supper menu   |   Audience reviews   |   Summer Q&A

Quotes

‘… a player destined for future glories’
Classical Guitar Magazine, Nov 2008

‘This young virtuoso is that rare thing among guitarists: a fine chamber player.’
Gramophone Review, July 2007

‘Morgan Szymanski’s guitar playing is amongst the best I have heard in a long time. In two Tangos by Piazzolla and in Tarrega’s demanding guitar arrangements of Sevilla and Cadiz from Albeniz’s Suite Espanola for piano, this Mexican-born musician’s flexible rhythmic energy and command of colour indicated a superb sense of style.’
Irish Times Review, Nov 2006

At St Mary’s, Timsbury, guitarist Morgan Szymanski brought the vibrant colour of his native Mexico and South America to a damp Sunday afternoon. His homage to the guitar masters was sincere, but his own considerable gifts shone through, with the shaping of the cantilena and elegant tracery of Tarrega’s Capricho Arabe a real highlight’.
The Guardian - Bath International Festival - May 2005

Morgan Szymanski

Described as ‘a player destined for future glories’ (Classical Guitar Magazine) over the last year Morgan Szymanski was selected as ‘one to watch’ by Gramophone Magazine and the BBC Music Magazine, was featured artist on the cover of Classical Guitar Magazine (Nov 2008) and was a finalist in the ‘2008 Outstanding Young Artist Award’ (MIDEM Classique/IAMA).

Born in Mexico City in 1979, Morgan Szymanski started playing the guitar at the age of six. Early studies at the National Music School (Mexico) and the Edinburgh Music School led to a scholarship to study under Carlos Bonell and Gary Ryan and the Royal College of Music in London, graduating in 2004 with first class honours. During his studies he won all guitar prizes from the RCM as well as scholarships from the Tillett Trust, Countess of Munster Musical Trust, Leverhulme Trust, Wall Trust, FONCA and a scholarship to study at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. He immediately went on to become the first solo guitarist to be selected by YCAT and was the first guitarist to be awarded a Junior Fellowship at the RCM, where he completed his Masters with distinction.

A top prize-winner at international competitions, in 2002 Morgan won first prize at the prestigious National Guitar Competition in Mexico. Abroad, performances as a soloist and with orchestras have taken him to Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Mexico, Guatemala and the USA.

Over the last year Morgan has given recitals at major UK venues and festivals including Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, Bridgwater Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, King’s Place, the Sage Gateshead and London International Guitar Festival to name a few. In May 2007 he made his debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performing Joaquin Rodrigo’s ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’.

He is a founding member of ‘Machaca’, an international ensemble consisting of some of the UK’s finest musicians including Ruth Rogers (violin), Gemma Rosefield (’cello), Laura Mitchell (soprano) and the ODuo (percussion) amongst others. Their first recording ‘Mano a Mano’ was released in April ‘07 in London’s Purcell Room during ‘La Linea’: London’s Latin American Music Festival and was described as ‘a real jewel of a disc’ by Gramophone Magazine. In 2008 the ensemble embarked on a tour of Mexico culminating at the Mexico City Festival to critical acclaim.

Described as ‘top class in every respect’ (Classical Guitar Magazine, 2005), Morgan’s previous CD ‘The Unicorn in the Garden’, was released in 2005 including works by Iannarelli, Ritter, Ponce and Barrios as well as works especially written for him by Alec Roth. In 2006 he composed the original soundtrack to the award winning Mexican documentary ‘Toro Negro’ and 2008 saw the premiere of his ‘Zambezi Sarabande’ for the Bulawayo Music Festival (Zimbabwe).

Morgan’s interest in chamber music has led to collaborations with artists such as John Williams and Carlos Bonell (guitar), Mark Padmore (tenor), Alison Balsom (trumpet),  Priya Mitchell (violin), Marcelo Nisinman (bandoneon), the Sacconi Quartet, Phuong Nguyen (accordion), Adam Walker (flute) and Clara Mouriz (mezzo-soprano) amongst others.

He has appeared as a soloist with the Royal Philharmonic Ocrhestra, Hallé, Orchestra of the Swan, Southbank Sinfonia, the Welsh Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Sinfonia and the Cervantes Choir. Future plans include concerto performances with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Macedonia Phiharmonic and the City of Birmingham Youth Symphony Orchestra.

In 2008 he took part in two world premieres by Alec Roth - a guitar quintet especially commissioned for him with the Sacconi Quartet and a collaboration with Vikram Seth called Songs in Time of War recently recorded on the Signum Label with Mark Padmore. 2008 saw the world premiere at the Wigmore Hall of ‘Los Ambulantes’ by Stephen McNeff especially commissioned for Morgan Szymanski and ODuo.

Summer Q and A

Q1    Who or what always puts a smile on your face?
     Nature, animals, music, laughter and wine!

Q2    What was your earliest childhood memory of summer?
     Edinburgh Festival

Q3    Are you going anywhere nice for your summer holidays?
     Tulum on the Mayan Riviera in Yucatan, Mexico

Q4    What is your favourite city?
    Edinburgh

Q5    What are you reading at the moment?
    One Hundred Years of Solitude by Garbriel Garcia Marquez

Q6    What music are you currently listening to?
     Everything I am learning!

Q7    What’s your favourite summer drink?
    Ribena!

Q8    What food would you most associate with summer?
    Strawberries or asparagus

Q9    Which composer would you most like to have met?
    Mozart or the Argentineans Astor Piazzolla and Alberto Ginastera

Q10    How would you like to be remembered?
    As a travelling troubador!

After concert supper 2

After concert supper bookings for this concert is now closed.

MAIN: Moroccan spiced lamb with red pepper couscous and seasonal salad.   

VEGETARIAN: Thai red curry of summer vegetables served with rice and baby leaves.

DESSERT: Pear and almond tart served with vanilla ice-cream. Coffee/tea.

If you wish to add your review to the concert please email your comments and they will be uploaded onto the website. Blackthorpe Barn reserves the right to edit comments submitted.

John Castell, Rougham
Wonderful respect and love of the music, plus extraordinary technical brilliance, and at one wih his superb instrument. Can anyone better this!?

Kevin & Denise, London
We had a wonderful visit and thoroughly enjoyed the music and guitar playing. Thank you.

Gunesh, Ipswich
Very good – especially the spanish based guitar music.

N.R., Lavenham
Morgan Swings! (He certainly does. – Carol C.)

Chris, St Ives
Excellent!!

Paul Trigg, Walpole
A wonderful deft touch and such musicality. Also loved the humour in his introductions – and his grin!

Ms W. Underwood, Wordwell
Splendid skills – with good repore with audience. Varied programme. Aouls like to see him again.

Arthur Winchester, Stowmarket
He made the guitar come superbly to life and the textures were magical. His stage presence was first class and we learned alot about the pieces in the programme. Lets have him again.

C.M. Ruddock, Rougham
What a wondeful concert Morgan Szymanski was delightful and played beautifully.