Classic guitar master David Russell will present a recital on Friday evening at the Guotu Concert Hall, inside the National Library of China in downtown Beijing.
The concert is being organized by the China International Culture Exchange Center, Beijing Philharmonic Guitar Trio and several other cultural institutions.
The program includes Bach's Chaconne, F. Sor Morceau's Concert pour la Princesse Adelaide, E. Granados' Dance No 5, No 10 and La Maja de Goya, as well as four Scottish pieces -- Sanas Cuain (Message of the Sea), The Bride's Reel, The Rose Bud of Allenvale and Miss Mary Walker of Peterhead.
The concert will also feature four of Francisco Tarrega's works -- Danza Mora, Gran Vals, Three Mazurkas and Carnival of Venice -- to pay homage to the 150th anniversary of his birthday.
After his Beijing performance, Russell will give recitals and master classes in Hong Kong and Taipei in late March and early April, organizers say.
Hailed by the New York Times as "a talent of extraordinary dimension," Russell is widely considered to be one of today's greatest classical guitar performers.
Over the past decade, Russell's work has made him a legend among classical guitarists throughout the world.
Russell is noted for including new or unfamiliar music in most of his recitals and has a superb command over a wide variety of tones.
His passion for music resonates through his outstanding and seemingly effortless performances of even the most demanding pieces.
His attention to detail and provocative lyrical phrasing suggest an innate understanding of what each individual composer was working to achieve, bringing to each piece a sense of adventure, critics say.
Composers Guido Santorsola, Jorge Morel, Francis Kleynjans, and Carlo Domeniconi have all dedicated works to him.
"With his infectious manner and sparkling technical command, he can always deliver an attractive and outgoing stage presence, a quality that carries over into his frequent stints as a much sought-after teacher of master classes," said Wang Zhen, director of the Beijing Philharmonic Guitar Trio.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Russell moved during his childhood to the Spanish island of Menorca, where he was introduced to the guitar by his father.
At 16, he moved to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music with Hector Quine.
Twice he won the "Julian Bream Guitar Prize" and, after graduation, received a scholarship from the Ralph Vaughan Williams Trust.
With a grant from the Spanish Government, he then studied with Jose Tomas in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Since the 1970s, Russell has won nearly all of the major international competitions including the "Alicante Guitar Competition," "Jose Ramirez Competition," the "Andres Segovia Competition" in Palma de Mallorca, and Spain's most prestigious "Francisco Tarrega Competition" in Benicasim.
With his unique artistic abilities, Russell is equally compelling in recital or with orchestras. He has captured a large following wherever he has performed.
Spending most of his time touring Europe, North America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa, Russell performs to both enthusiastic critical acclaim and huge audiences.
(China Daily March 3, 2003)
