Michael

Solo Classical Guitarist

Acknowledged as “A forerunner in the new generation of classical guitarists” (BBC Radio), Michael continues to establish himself as one of England’s finest and most creative young musicians. He enjoys a busy performance schedule, with concerts ranging from intimate solo recitals to large-scale concerto performances.

Michael performs regularly across the UK, and recent sell-out concerts for King’s Lynn Music Society, Somerton Arts Festival, and Winchester Cathedral are a testament to his musical ability and rising popularity. A dedicated chamber musician, Michael also collaborates regularly by performing and recording with a diverse range of artists; including the violinist Alexander Markov, the pianist Nico de Villiers, and the flamenco guitarist Samuel Moore.

Michael studied classical guitar with Maestro Carlos Bonell, professor of guitar at the Royal College of Music (RCM), London and Maestro Giulio Tampalini at Accademia della Chitarra di Brescia in Italy. He studied full-time as a master’s student at the RCM and was awarded an MSc with distinction in 2018. Notably, Michael was the first classical guitarist to be awarded a master’s studentship from the RCM and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

Highlights for the forthcoming 2019/20 Concert Season include Michael’s most extensive international solo tour to date, a performance of Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Romancero Gitano, Op. 152 in the Cayman Islands, and a performance of Joaquín Rodrigo’s Fantasia para un Gentilhombre in Berlin, Germany.

Repertoire List

Guitar and Orchestra

Joaquín Rodrigo (1901 –1999):Concierto de Aranjuez para guitarra y orquesta:
1) Allegro con spirito
2) Adagio;
3) Allegro gentile

Fantasia para un gentilhombre para guitarra y orquesta:
1) Villano y ricercar
2) Españoleta y fanfarria de la caballería de Nápoles
3) Danza de las Hachas
4) Canario

Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1896 –1968):Concerto no. 1 in D major, Op. 99:
1) Allegretto
2) Andantino alla romanza
3) Ritmico e cavalleresco

Heitor Villa-Lobos (1997 –1959):Concerto pour guitare et petit orchestre, W501:
1) Allegro preciso –poco meno
2) Andantino e Andante
3) Cadenza: Quasi allegro –Andane –Quasi allegro –Poco moderato
4) Allegro non troppo

Mauro Giuliani (1781 –1829):Concerto no. 1 in A major, Op. 30:
1) Allegro maestoso
2) Andantino (Siciliano)
3) Polonaise –Allegretto

Antonio Vivaldi(1678 –1741): Concerto in D major, RV 93:
1) Allegro
2) Largo
3) Allegro

Guitar and Choir

Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1896-1968):Romancero Gitano for guitar and mixed choir, Op. 152:
1) Baladilla de los Tres Ríos
2) La Guitarra
3) Puñal
4) Procesion –Paso –Saeta
5) Memento
6) Baile
7) Crótalo

Solo Repertoire – Popular Classical Arrangements

Edward Grieg (1867 –1907)
Morning Mood from Peer Gynt Suite, Op. 46

Claude Debussy (1862 –1918)
Suite Bergamasque; III. Clair de lune
Piano Prelude No. 8; La fille aux cheveux de lin

Stanley Myers (1930 –1993)
Cavatina, theme from The Deer Hunter

Johann Pachelbel (1653 –1706)
Canon in D

Traditional English Folk Song
Greensleeves Romanesca

Howard Blake (b. 1938)
Walking in the Air, theme from The Snowman

Léo Delibes (1836 –1891)
Flower Duet from Lakmé

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 –1791)
Rondo alla Turca from Piano Sonata no. 11,
K. Andante from Piano Concerto no. 21, K.467

Astor Piazzolla (1921 –1992)
Libertango

Erik Satie (1866 –1925)
Gymnopedie No. 1
Gnossienne No. 1

Traditional Guitar Repertoire
Fernando Sor (1778 –1839)
Introduction and variations on a theme of Mozart,
Op. 9Moonlight étude in b minor, Op. 35, No. 22

Mauro Giuliani (1781 –1829)
Variations on a Theme of Handel, Op. 107
Grande Ouveture, Op. 61

Agustín Barrios Mangoré (1885 –1944)
La Catedral (The Cathedral):
1) Preludio Saudade
2) Andante Religioso
3) Allegro Solemne Vida lita con variaciones (inédita)
Vals, Op. 8 no. 4

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 –1750)
Chaconne, BWV 1004Prelude
Fugue and Allegro
BWV 998 Adagio and Fugue
BWV 1000 Two Minuets from the notebook of Anna Magdalena

Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887 –1959)
Five Preludes:Prelude no. 1 in E minor Prelude
no. 2 in E major Prelude
no. 3 in A minor Prelude
no. 4 in E minor Prelude
no. 5 in D major

William Walton (1902 –1983)
Bagatelles no. 2 and 3 from Five Bagatelles

Yuquijiro Yocoh (b. 1925)
Sakura, theme and variations on a Japanese folk song

Benjamin Britten(1913 –1976)
Nocturnal after John Dowland, Op. 70

Spanish Repertoire

Isaac Albéniz (1860 –1909)
Granada (Serenata), No. 1 from Suite EspañolaSevilla (Sevillana)
No. 3 from Suite EspañolaAsturias (Leyenda)
No. 5 from Suite Española

Enrique Granados (1867 –1916)
Danza Española Op. 37, No. 2 (Oriental)
Danza Española Op. 37, No. 5 (Andaluza)

BartoloméCalatayud (1882 –1973)
Boceto Andaluz(Andalucían Sketch)
Simpatia
Bolero

Francisco Tárrega (1852 –1909)
Capricho Arabé (Serenata)
Lagrima (Prelude)
Recuerdos de la Alhambra (Memories of the Alhambra)
Gran Vals Maria (Gavoto)Sueño (Mazurka)

Joaquín Rodrigo (1901 –1999)
Adagio from Concierto de Aranjuez
Por los campos de España: En Los Trigales (In the Wheat Fields)
Invocación y Danza (Homenaje a Manuel de Falla)

Chamber Music Ensembles
Guitar and String Quartet
Guitar and Piano
Guitar and Violin

Testimonials

“Michael is highly professional,looks great and his music was fantastic –exactly what we needed –gave the evening a real touch of class.”
-Corporate Client, November 2018

“Michael has played at our wedding venue and was excellent. His musicianship was faultless, and he was professional and very friendly to deal with.”
-Greg Beedle/Gants Mill,July 2015

“I attended 4 classical guitar concerts of Michael’s on the P&O Oceana and found each of them a moving and wonderful experience. His technical skill ensured each piece was interpreted perfectly giving me the intended imaginary scene complete with relevant emotion. In between pieces he was informative, self-effacing and absolutely charming…quite a delight!”
-P&O Cruises; Passenger Feedback April 2016