Classical Guitar Magazine34

T HE KOBLENZ International GuitarFestival & Academy has undoubtedly

grown into one of the top internationalguitar festivals in the world. There, in thevery intimate and picturesque setting ofKoblenz, one could hear many of thefinest guitarists of our time in concert andmasterclass, in an atmosphere that isunpretentious and friendly. Added tothese very musically inspiring experiences,is the pleasure of strolling throughKoblenz’s cobblestoned streets andsquares, filled with welcoming cafes andrestaurants, and sitting for a chat withthese artists.

The 18th Koblenz International GuitarFestival & Academy was held from 17–24May 2010 in Koblenz, Germany situated inthe Rhine Valley on the banks of two rivers,the Rhine and the Mosel. There were manyoutstanding performances at this year’s festi-val, starting with Pavel Steidl, who played ona 1926 Simplicio guitar. The sound of theinstrument easily filled the hall and themelodic lines in the slow movement of Castelnuovo-Tedesco’sSonata Omaggio a Boccherini, Op. 77 were particularlybeautiful. The Bach Chaconne was another epic musical

journey under his hands. The wit and humour he extractsfrom Carlo Domeniconi’s Hommage à Jimi Hendrix seemedto be unsurpassable, but then he played an encore of hisLambada Für Elise; words are insufficient to describe themany levels and aspects of one’s musical being that he tapsinto simultaneously but it is an absolute joy to hear himperform.

Lorenzo Micheli has dedicated himself to promoting theworks of Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. He is an engagingplayer who attracts you to listen from his very first notes; hisextreme sensitivity as a player and his high-level of musi-cianship leaves a deep impression on you. I particularlyenjoyed the Tarantella, Op. 87b and the Sonata, Op. 77 withtheir lightly dancing scale passages and attractive tone quali-ty. As a contrast he played the early 20th-century pieceVariationen über Schuberts ‘Wiegenlied’ by FerdinandRebay.

Angel Romero gave a recital with his wife the sopranoNefretiri Romero which featured selections from Mi JardínSolitario by Lorenzo Palomo, a setting of poems by Angel’sfather, Celedonio Romero. At times the music had a stark,Andalusian flavour to match the text, but the voice ofNefretiri filled the hall with a rich, round texture, which waseven more attractive in the Canciones Antiguas by FedericoGarcía Lorca. Angel Romero played his own distinctiveaccompaniment to these songs; he explained later that hisideas were inspired by his dear friend, the Spanish guitaristNarciso Yepes.

Marcin Dylla is one of the top young players that we havetoday, although I always enjoy his playing, his concert atKoblenz was one of the most impressive I have ever heardhim play. Ponce’s Sonata Romantica was full of beauty andhe brought out the Schubertian aspects well. He gave anexciting performance of Tres Piezas and then the Tres

18TH KOBLENZ INTERNATIONAL GUITAR FESTIVAL & ACADEMY 2010

by THÉRÈSE WASSILY SABA

The French guitarist, Florian Larousse, who won First Prize in the Koblenz International Guitar

Competition ‘Hubert Käppel’ in 2009.

From right: Manuel Barrueco, Angel Romero, Georg Schmitz, David Russell, María Jesus Russell, Lucio Matarazzo, Robert Brightmore, Michael Lewin, Denis Azabagic.

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Piezas Españolas by Joaquín Rodrigo; it wasall so full of musical expression. Despite hisexcellent international reputation one cansee that Marcin Dylla still strives to give hisaudience the very best performance that hecan and in Koblenz he did!

David Russell played his very beautifularrangements of works by Couperin withexquisite ornamentation and equally pleasingworks by Bach: his arrangements of theSinfonia from Cantata 156 and Suite BWV1034. Here we could hear a true master ofthe instrument performing in the phrasing ofthe individual lines. Every note seemed tohave profound meaning and importance. Thatsame level of masterly performance camealso in the recital by Manuel Barrueco,whose musicianship was as illuminating asalways. José Ardévol’s Sonata was a remark-able piece with refreshingly distinctive har-monic ideas. The Tristón from Piazzolla’sCinco Piezas was played so tenderly that onewas grateful to be saved from tears by the final movement,Compadre; the roaring cries of appreciation from the audi-ence at the end of the Piazzolla also helped to get one’s feetback onto the ground.

Goran Krivokapic is also a refined guitarist, playing with asecure but understated interpretation, which draws you in.He played three contrasting Sonatas by C.P.E Bach, Haydnand José, all with an admirable musical depth. DenisAzabagic’s recital was technically comfortable but somehowemotionally removed. He played his own excellent arrange-ment of Bach Partita BWV 1013, originally for solo flute, aswell as La Catedral by Barrios and El Decameron Negro byBrouwer.

Zoran Dukic’s performance was so emotionally charged heseemed to double in physical stature on stage. He is a playerof broad interpretational contrasts, from the ravishinglybeautiful to the boldly ugly timbres, and his dynamic controlin the crescendos and decrescendos was so pleasing. His per-formances of the Fantasia Sonata by Joan Manen and theFantasy by Malcolm Arnold brought out aspects of thosepieces that I had not experienced before. He gave theGerman première of Dusan Bogdanovic’s Fantasia written in2009 in homage to Maurice Ohana and dedicated to ZoranDukic. Being an admirer of all three artists – Ohana,

Bogdanovic and Dukic – I wanted to hear the pieceagain...immediately!

Judicaël Perroy’s command of technique and his concen-trated interpretation has an intensity which is so distinctiveand communicative. He is a powerful musician with strongideas and he has a firm hold on the rhythmic drive of pieces;I really enjoyed his excellent performances of Ponce’sTheme and Variations on ‘La Folia de España’ and the BachPartita.

Sergio and Odair Assad performed as a duo and not onlyis their musicianship impressive but it is also their enjoy-ment of playing that makes the experience so special. Odairplayed some solos including the Sonata del caminante,which was written for him by Leo Brouwer. Odair is so atone with this piece that his whole body moves to its rhythm;it is almost like watching someone play the guitar on a mov-ing train.

There were so many special concerts this year; I wishthere was more space for me to give you more details; I feltvery privileged to be there in Koblenz and if only I couldhave divided myself into two or three people, I would havebeen able to attend more things at the same time.

Throughout the week there were masterclasses given byDavid Russell, Manuel Barrueco, Sergio and Odair Assad,Konrad Ragossnig, Lorenzo Micheli, Hubert Käppel,Aniello Desiderio, Robert Brightmore, John Dearman andmany other excellent players. What is most enjoyable inKoblenz is that you can sit and listen to the advice of theseguitar masters in a relaxed and intimate atmosphere andthey are all very dedicated to helping the students improve.One of the most special moments in the week for me waslistening to Konrad Ragossnig give a masterclass to ayoung student on Bach’s Lute Suite in A minor. One of thefirst recordings which I bought was of Konrad Ragossnigplaying that suite on the lute. Since then I have heardmany different performances of the work, but none hasever impressed me as much as Konrad Ragossnig’s. In themasterclass Konrad Ragossnig also emphasised the impor-tance of daily technique work; he compared it with thewarm-up exercises of a ballet dancer. Naturally the techni-cal level of the students was high, so David Russell remind-ed students that, although they are able to play their scaleswith ‘machine-gun precision, they should try to maintain a

Odair and Sergio Assad in concert.

Manuel Barrueco giving a masterclass.

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Odair Assad giving a masterclass. David Russell giving a masterclass.

Students of the Koblenz International Guitar Academyrehearsing with the Staatsorchester Rheinische

Philharmonie, conducted by Francesco Angelico, beforetheir final examination.

Goran Krivocapic.

Angel Romero and Aniello Desiderio playing the Concierto Madrigal by Joaquin Rodrigo with the

Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie, conducted byFrancesco Angelico, in the presence of Cecilia Rodrigo.

The winners of the Koblenz International GuitarCompetition ‘Hubert Käppel’ 2010, from left: Brain Vanceof D’Addario, Andras Csaki, Chia-Wei Lin, Rafael Aguirre,

Konrad Ragossnig, Hubert Käppel, Angel Romero.

Relaxing in Koblenz.

Agustín Leon Ara, Cecilia Rodrigo and Konrad Ragossnig.

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certain element of elegance as well. He elaborated that oneshould try to ‘charm’ the audience rather than ‘impress’them. Manuel Barrueco tried to encourage students to usevibrato and then discussed the different nuances in the useof vibrato.

At the ‘Friday Night for Guitar and Orchestra’ concert inthe historic Görreshaus in the heart of old Koblenz, theItalian guitarist Aniello Desiderio gave a vibrant perfor-mance of the Giuliani Concerto in A minor, Op.30 with theStaatsorchester Rheinischer Philharmonie, conducted byFrancesco Angelico. In the same programme Angel Romeroperformed the Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo,and then Rodrigo’s Concierto Madrigal for two guitars withAniello Desiderio. They gave an excellent performance andthe atmosphere was equally compelling with a very fullhouse including Cecilia Rodrigo and her husband, the violin-ist Agustín Leon Ara.

Cecilia Rodrigo also attended the public examinationswith orchestra of the Koblenz International Guitar AcademySoloist Diploma, which has her father’s work, the Conciertode Aranjuez, as an obligatory piece. The students: EvgenyBeleninov from Russia, Petar Culic from Croatia, AysegulKoca from Turkey and Sandro Brancaccio from Italy, eachperformed this examination with the StaatsorchesterRheinischer Philharmonie, conducted by Francesco Angelico.Cecilia Rodrigo commented to me about this examinationwith a professional orchestra: ‘I thought it was a real luxuryfor students who are finishing their guitar training. Not onlyare forced to deal with an immense work, but it also givesthem the opportunity to work with an orchestra, which inthis case is excellent and with a conductor who was givingthem good advice.’

The Austrian guitarist and lutenist, Konrad Ragossnig washonoured with the Koblenz International Guitar Academy’sLife Achievement Award 2010. The ceremony was held atthe Historic Rathaussaal in Koblenz on Sunday 23 May2010. Prof. Ingeborg Henzler, President of the University ofApplied Science Koblenz, and Georg Schmitz, the Directorof the Koblenz International Guitar Academy presentedKonrad Ragossnig with the Award and with a bronze sculp-ture created by the German artist Heinz Kassung; it wasderived from his original design of thefestival logo. Speeches were given byProf. Dr. Joachim Hofmann-Göttig, theMayor of the city of Koblenz, Dr.Rainer Mohrs, Editorial Manager ofSchott Mainz, Prof. Ingeborg Henzler,Koblenz, and the laudatio was given bythe flautist, recorder player and com-poser Hans-Martin Linde, who workedin ensemble with Konrad Ragossnig formany, many years. Listening to thesespeeches one had a sense of the enor-mous contribution that KonradRagossnig has made to the guitar, thelute, to the music world and to the gen-erations who follow him. This verymoving ceremony was also attended byKonrad Ragossnig’s family, including hisson the harpsichordist ThomasRagossnig, and Cecilia Rodrigo andAgustin León Ara.

During the ceremony Hubert Käppelgave emotionally charged perfor-mances of Canticum and Tarantos by

Leo Brouwer. The duos for guitar and recorder withWolfgang Dey included the colourful Musica da Camera andMusic for a Bird by Hans-Martin Linde, which were evenmore special to listen to with the composer there in theaudience, and on the very day of his 80th birthday. The cere-mony was brought to a fitting close with Hubert Käppel andWolfgang Dey playing Konrad Ragossnig’s fine arrangementof Lachrimae Pavan by John Dowland.

There were a record number of participants in the compe-tition this year and the level of the performances was veryhigh. The international jury with Dale Kavanagh, SonjaPrunnbauer, Tadashi Sasaki, Alfred Eickholt, Ansgar Krause,Lucio Matarazzo, Günter M. Schillings, Robert Brightmore,Goran Krivokapic, Michael Lewin, Alexander S. Ramirez,Tobias Kassung, Russell Poyner, with the addition of HubertKäppel and Agustín Leon Ara in the Final round, was headedby Uni.-Prof. Konrad Ragossnig. The winners of the KoblenzInternational Guitar Competition ‘Hubert Käppel’ 2010,were: First Prize: Rafael Aguirre (Spain); Second Prize:Andras Csàki (Hungary); and Third Prize: Chia-Wei Lin(Taiwan). The First Prize includes a concert in the Weill

Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall, New York,sponsored by D’Addario & Company andthe D’Addario Music Foundation, includ-ing 1000 US dollars, flight and hotelexpenses, and a year’s supply ofD’Addario strings; 3000 euros fromSparkasse Koblenz; 10 concerts inGermany; and production of a CD withKSG EXAUDIO.

I asked Rafael Aguirre Miñarro abouthis debut in New York as the First Prizewinner of the Koblenz InternationalGuitar Competition ‘Hubert Käppel’2010, which would be in October 2010,‘I am very excited about the debut inNew York and I want to do my best sothat people enjoy in this concert. It willcertainly be a privilege and an honour tostep on that stage.’ Rafael continued, ‘thecompetition of Koblenz has been a hugeevent and of a magnitude never seenbefore, at least in my case. I was neverin a competition with so many partici-pants, which scared me a little at first.

Konrad Ragossnig, Festival Director Georg Schmitz andProf. Ingeborg Henzler at the Life Achievement Awardceremony of the Koblenz International Guitar Academy.

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Konrad Ragossnig receives the Koblenz Guitar Academy's Life Achievement Award.

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Any competition is difficult for me, even if there are onlyseven participants because I want to do my best and I wantto play exactly how I understand the music at this time ofmy life specifically.’

The Spanish violinist Agustín León Ara, the husband ofCecilia Rodrigo, was part of the jury for the Finals of thecompetition and was pleased with: ‘the warm welcome anda great organization. The contestants had a high level. Theprogramme was attractive because it left a lot of freedomfor the contestants. The jury was composed of personalitiesof international guitar and I felt comfortable and very hon-oured to be among them.’

The lecture series included a very interesting discussionabout stage fright which was moderated by GünterForsteneichner and was followed by an equally informativelecture entitled ‘How to Stay Healthy as a Concert Guitarist’given by Prof. Dr Michael Schmitz. Hubert Käppel gave alecture on the Technique of the Modern Concert Guitar, cov-ering his extensive and exhaustive exercises from his soon-to-be-published tome of the same title; it will be an invalu-able book for all guitarists. Tina van den Berg and TobiasKassung each gave lectures on the practical aspects of beinga concert guitarist. Dr. Andreas Michel Andino gave a lec-ture and demonstration about the parallels between the artof performing magic and that of being a classical guitarist,which was both informative and entertaining. He did teachus a few card tricks too and reminded us that: ‘The illusion isalways in the mind.’

Each year on the Sunday before the start of the KoblenzInternational Guitar Festival & Academy, they have held agolf tournament at Jakobsberg Golf Course to raise moneyfor the ‘NGO David y María Russell’ charity, which buildswater wells in Africa. This year David and Maria Russellwere able to officially thank them for the water pump, whichwas built in Turkana, Kenya, with the money collected in lastyear’s tournament. The French guitarist, Florian Larousse,who won First Prize in the Koblenz International GuitarCompetition ‘Hubert Käppel’ in 2009, began his recital inthe chapel of the monastery in Jakobsberg with a guitarwith extra bass strings on it for his excellent performance oftwo Fantasies by John Dowland. The treble strings werevery clear and were not overpowered by the extra basses.The sound was beautiful and so was his interpretation. Toour great surprise, before playing some Regondi, he removed

the extra bass strings, and suddenly the guitar was just aregular 6-stringed guitar. This extraordinary guitar with theharp string attached was built by the French luthier HugoCuvilliez. The Mike Reinhardt Trio, with Mike, Moro andSascha, all members of Django Reinhardt’s family, were atthe golf course in the evening with other members of hisfamily, to amaze us with his fast and stylish gypsy swingplaying. Later in the week the Joscho Stephan Quartett gavea performance at the jazz venue Café Hahn with MikeReinhardt as their special guest guitarist.

There were many guitar makers exhibiting theirinstruments, including Michael Wichmann, Georg andRobert Gose, Gert Petersen, Antonius Müller, Armin andMario Gropp. Michael Macmeekan had his Chanterellepublications there, which are always full of exciting neweditions. Other special visitors at the festival were BrainVance of D’Addario, who was there to discuss the widerange of strings that they have as well as the innovativeguitar products, such as super-sensitive humidifiers intheir Planet Waves.

As well as the exhibitor’s stands in the Görreshaus, therewas also an exhibition of guitars at the Galerie Handwerk, agallery for craftsman, designers and artists. On 12 May2010 at the opening of the exhibition, entitled Der Tonmacht die Musik – Meistergitarren für Meistergitarristen(13–24 May 2010), the German guitar maker MichaelWichmann, from Hamburg gave a talk on the process of gui-tar making and the possibilities for the future, and FlorianLarousse gave a short recital. Prof. Dr. Joachim Hofmann-Göttig, the Mayor of Koblenz, and the Galerie HandwerkPresident Werner Wittlich also spoke at the official openingof the exhibition, which was attended by the GalerieHandwerk CEO Alexander Baden, and the piano and harpsi-chord maker Siegfried Thielemann, who heads the GermanMasters Guilds Association for Musical Instrument Makers.The first and second rounds of the Koblenz InternationalGuitar Competition ‘Hubert Käppel’ were held in this exhibi-tion space at the Galerie Handwerk.

The 19th Koblenz International Guitar Festival &Academy will be held from 6 to 13 June 2011, at the sametime as the Bundesgartenschau – the National Garden Show2011 – in Koblenz.

www.koblenzguitarfestival.de

(From left) The Koblenz Mayor Prof. Dr. JoachimHofmann-Göttig, Galerie Handwerk CEO Alexander Baden,

the Head of the German Masters Guild for MusicalInstrument Makers Siegfried Thielemann, Galerie

Handwerk President Werner Wittlich and Georg Schmitz.

David and Maria Russell at Jakobsberg Golf Course, where the Koblenz Guitar Stars Charity Golf Tournament

was held. The poster shows the water pump that was built in Turkana, Kenya, with the money collected

in last year’s tournament.

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