e-mail: [email protected] Volume 7 Issue 3 web site: http://members.aol.com/wsgcmail/wsgcmail January 2002 Triumphant Return for Lorenzo Don’t miss Craig he October Ogden on recital by T Lorenzo Micheli was much 12th anticipated. His performance for us January! last year was acknowleged by everyone as a sheer delight, but the recent ur first recital of one was little short of the New Year a triumph! O sees the The Prelude, Fugue welcome return of Craig and Allegro by Bach was Ogden. Craig is Lorenzo’s superb choice Australian and studied to open the recital. He music in and played it in his very the UK before settling in distinct way - articulate, passionate, yet very convincing. Despite a Lorenzo Micheli—his charm, his brilliance, his smile! challenging speed, - hardly any of the world’s guitarists could match of operatic passion, was almost a pity, that it! - Lorenzo sustained a energy and drama, and the fiery temperament wonderful pulse despite the speed, and extraordinary throughout the whole technically immaculate. A technical ability of the three movements , very few witty biographical artist tempted him to skilfully building to the remarks about Giuliani’s play the Capriccio with Craig Ogden - culmination of the whole life made everyone smile such speed that whilst ‘a worthy successor to piece in the brilliant and helped us to enjoy everything worked Julian Bream’ Allegro. However the music still more. musically, some of the challenging the speed of Lorenzo concluded the drama and yearning of the Allegro was, he first half with the Tedesco’s melodies may the UK with his wife, the found the way to Capriccio Diobolico by have been explored more mezzo-soprano Claire decorate the ending of it Mario Castelnuovo- deeply. Bradshaw, with whom he with two wonderful trills Tedesco. This most The interval with a gave a superb recital at and was rewarded by challenging piece in the glass of (Italian!) wine the Club last year. cries of delight and repertoire was again gave everyone a chance This time he returns rapturous applause. preceded by a short to chat, and for our new in his capacity as soloist Lorenzo gracefully bowed verbal introduction and guests it was chance to to play a programme and smiled and everyone Lorenzo’s knowledge was browse through Pam’s including three knew the evening was much appreciated, his superb albums while contemporary Greek going to be a real treat! super sense of humour others exchanged pieces and works by Lorenzo’s next piece was rewarded more than recordings and music at Lovelady and was the Grand Ouverture once by bursts of the library. Many of us Yoshimatsu, as well as by Giuliani. This was full (Continued on page 2) laughter! If anything, it (Continued on page 2) Page 2 Club News Lorenzo’s triumphant return...

(Continued from page 1) Finally - Llobet’s Variations on makes him an artist whom were able to add Lorenzo’s latest the legendary “Folia de Espania”, everyone would like to listen to CD to our collections . each variation exploring a different again and again. Lorenzo started the second technique, all in all covering every A few weeks later we met with half with the virtuoso Fantasie possible way of making sound on Lorenzo in London, where he came Hongroise by Mertz. By this time the guitar, and thanks to the gift of from Italy with his former the excitement had reached such a wonderful performer - each full of professor and friend, Frederic point that it seemed that everyone character and meaning. Two Zigante, to Bream’s anniversary could hardly wait for the final note encores, one of them - the spiky concert at the Wigmore Hall. We of the piece to applaud. Then Tarantella by Tedesco (at Lorenzo’ spent an exellent evening together followed a collection of charming s humorous suggestion - being the and at the end were delighted to pieces by Barrios. Lorenzo can play dance of someone bitten by a learn that one day Lorenzo and this sweet, sentimental and tarantula!) concluded a memorable Frederic may play for us one of the capricious music with disarming evening. Surely none of us were greatest guitar duets of the XXth c. sincerity. Even the most familiar of complaining of being bitten by the the 24 Preludes and Fugues by Barrios’ music sounded fresh under “guitar bug”! Castelnuovo-Tedesco. We may his fingers, let alone the less well- Lorenzo’s intense musicality, hear Lorenzo Micheli (and his new known pieces such as the Gavota utmost concentration, the precision duo!) at our Recital Hall as soon as al Estilo Antiguo, the Estudio - and economy of his movements, next year. Hope you will be able to Homenaje a Bach or the evocative his graceful way of addressing the come! Primavera Valse. audience and his charming smile Sasha Levtov Craig Ogden Recital—12th January...

(Continued from page 1) Magazine has dubbed him ‘a recitalist and is without doubt one favourites by Villa-Lobos, Albeniz, worthy successor to Julian of the most exciting talents of his Lauro and Bellinati. For full Bream’. The Daily Telegraph said generation. This recital promises programme details check our web of his CD ‘Music from the Novels of to be one of the highlights of the site. Louis de Bernières’, ‘this disc is season and a great musical start to Craig’s performances and CDs pure joy’. the New Year. Tickets are have attracted much critical Craig is much in demand as an available from Jonathan on 01243 acclaim and the BBC’s Music orchestral soloist and chamber 528573—Don’t miss it! Club Evening—7.30pm Sat 26th January—Xuefei

t is a great to . a few months later pleasure to In 1990 she entered entered the Royal I welcome this the Central Conservatory Academy of Music on a exceptionally talented of Music as the first Post Graduate course as young player to our student ever to major in well as being the first stage in the first ‘Young classical guitar guitarist to a get a full Professional’ recital of performance in China. scholarship from the the season. In 1995, after Associated Board of Xuefei Yang was listening to her playing, Royal Schools of Music. born in , China. John Williams left his In November she She began studying own Smallman guitar to won first prize in the Ivor Xufei Yang guitar at the age of her for her future concert Mairants Awards with a seven and started formal performance. unanimous decision from lessons with Chen Zhi her performance won In 2000 her debut the jury. (Previous when she was ten. Later enthusiastic acclaim from CD was released and winners include Amanda in the same year she artists and audiences. gained favourable Cook and Hayley showed her talent in the She was presented with reception. In June she Savage). Admission is 1st China International a handmade guitar by graduated from the just £3 (members) and Guitar Art Festival and the Spanish Ambassador Beijing Conservatory and £5 (guests).