| Program: |
Heritage – The Guitar in Venezuela
Featuring selections by Juan Bautista Plaza, Vicente Emilio Sojo, Raúl Borges, Inocente Carreño, Rodrigo Riera, Carlos Atilano, León Zapata, Alex Rodríguez, Diego Silva and Efraín Silva. Plus Cinco Valses Venezolanos and Suite Venezolana by Antonio Lauro and Iznaola’s Tríptico Criollo (Three Venezuelan Dances) for guitar and violin, joined by violinist Linda Wang. |
| Background: |
Ricardo Iznaola engages in a multifaceted musical career as a performer, composer, pedagogue, lecturer and writer. An American citizen, he was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1949. His activities have been distinguished by international critical acclaim and the admiration of colleagues and audiences alike, with Soundboard Magazine calling him “one of the most seminal players, teachers and thinkers of the guitar scene today.”
As performer and composer, Iznaola has been awarded top prizes in eight international competitions, including the Munich International Competition, the Francisco Tárrega Award in Spain – which he won twice – and the Stroud International Composers’ Competition in England.
Iznaola’s performing career includes innumerable concert performances at venues like theGranada and Santander music festivals, Madrid Autumn Festival, National Auditorium in Madrid, Gran Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville, Wigmore Hall in London, Grande Salle de L'Unesco in Paris, Hercule Saal in Munich, Ishibashi Memorial Hall in Tokyo, Andrés Segovia Spring Festival with the Radio Television Orchestra in Madrid and Seville, Merkin Concert Hallin New York and Colorado Symphony Orchestra, among others.
His daring approach to the art of guitar transcription has produced breath-taking results, as in his renditions of Ravel's Alborada del Gracioso and De Falla's Ritual Fire Dance, never before attempted for solo guitar.
With 13 recordings, issued on the Promus, Belter, Columbia and IGW labels, he has offered world premieres of such major works as Antonio Lauro’s legendary Sonata, and Antonio José’s 1933 Sonata, a monumental work that Iznaola rediscovered for the guitar repertoire. His latest CD “1927 - Spanish Guitar Music From the Time of Garcia Lorca” honors the centenary of the great Spanish poet with works by composers of his generation.
“Expressive, full of character, persuasive and assured musician with flair as well as technique” – Los Angeles Times. |
