Morgan Szymanski – Guitar » elvallesano

January 2008

elvallesano — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 10:00:49 +0000

During the first half of 2008 Morgan Szymanski will be involved in series of projects involving chamber music, concerti and solo recitals. January sees performances with the Saconni Quartet, performing Alec Roth’s Quintet for Guitar and Strings (especially written for the Saconni Quartet and Morgan Szymanski) as well as Simone Iannarelli’s Valzer Brillante (both recorded on Machaca – Mano a Mano) as well as works by Vivaldi, Giuliani and Boccerini.Other chamber music projects include a collaboration with the ODuo (Oliver Cox and Owen Gunnell) performing works by Ponce, Piazzolla, Bellinati and Lauro as well as the World Premiere of a new work especially written for the trio by Stephen McNeff. This work entitled ‘Los Ambulantes’ is inspired on the street vendors of Mexico City and will be premiered at the Wigmore Hall (10th of March). The trio will also be performing at St. George’s in Bristol. Other collaborations include recitals with Clara Andrada (flute), Gemma Rosefield (cello), Alison Balsom (trumpet), Ruth Rogers (violin), Laura Mitchell (soprano) and Mark Padmore (tenor).Morgan will be performing Joaquin Rodrigo’s ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’ with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at London’s Cadogan Hall (26th of February) and Fairfield Halls (7th June) and makes his debut with Southbank Sinfonia, (7th and 8th of March) and the Colne Philharmonic Orchestra (15th of March). April will see a series of solo recitals in Mexico as well as concerts with Machaca for the Festival de México en el Centro Histórico and the Anglo-Mexican Foundation (13th, 15th and 17th of April), whilst May sees a return visit to Zimbabwe, with concerts in Harare and the Bulawayo Festival.

Autmun 2007

elvallesano — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:33:32 +0000

This autumn Morgan Szymanski will be performing Joaquin Rodrigo’s ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’ with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (14th of November, Wolverhampton), the Hallé (17th of November, Manchester) and the Orchestra of the Swan (17th of October, Stratford-on-Avon; 19th of October, Bedworth; 21st of October, Birmingham).

He will also be performing at the London International Guitar Festival in a tribute to Venezuelan composer Antonio Lauro (10th of October) and a tribute to Andrés Segovia with Carlos Bonell (24th of October) at London’s Bolivar Hall.

Chamber music projects include two concerts with the ODuo (11th of September, Rye Festival; 18th of October, Stratford-on-Avon) and a duo recital with violinist Ruth Rogers (30th of November, London). Morgan will also be taking part in a new recording of the works of Alec Roth. Solo recital dates include concerts in Loughborough, Rye, Hertfordshire, and Bracknell.

For further information please consult the concert diary.

Gramophone Review – July 2007

elvallesano — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 14:39:17 +0000

Machaca – Mano a Mano

“This young virtuoso is that rare thing among guitarists: a fine chamber player”

Morgan Szymanski’s second disc features the young Mexican-born guitarist’s ensemble Machaca playing chamber music for guitar and various instruments, from Manuel M. Ponce’s Preludio for guitar and harpsichord to the final work, Alec Roth’s Quintet for guitar and strings (here receiving its first recording). Throughout, there’s a real freshness and sparkle to the playing that perfectly complements the light, attractive nature of the music. After Ponce’s curious Baroque evocation comes a darker shading in the form of three movements from Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango. Here, a violin takes the original flute part in the outer movements while the accordion offsets Szymanski’s sweet, fully rounded tone for the middle. Perhaps not quite as successful are the four pieces originally for solo guitar, which seem overburdened by the addition of a vocalist and/or percussion. No such reservations with Ponce’s Estrellita (arranged for cello and guitar) or Villa-Lobos’s Bachianas brasileiras No 5.

Simone Iannarelli’s Valzer Brillante for guitar and string quartet sees Szymanski and the Sacconi Quartet exhibit the same superb ensemble to be found in the Roth. The latter composer’s eclecticism and willingness continually to subvert expectations (the Prelude is especially effective in this respect) inspire the performers to seize collectively on the blues-based elements and inject a relaxed, improvisatory feel into the whole.

Minor reservations aside, “Mano a Mano” is a real jewel of a disc, with Szymanski demonstrating that he’s not only a soloist of formidable talent but also that rare thing among guitarists: a fine chamber musician.

William Yeoman

News 2007

elvallesano — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 17:42:53 +0000

This year Morgan Szymanski makes his debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra playing Joaquin Rodrigo’s ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’ in May, as well as the launch of his new CD, Machaca – Mano a Mano, in the Purcell Room in London’s South Bank during London’s Latin American Music Festival ‘La Linea’ 2007.

Other exciting projects include the performance of Alec Roth’s ‘Quintet for Guitar and Strings’ with the Sacconi Quartet at the Bangor New Music Festival as well as concerto’s with the Hallam Sinfonia in Sheffield, the Charities Philharmonia in London’s St. John’s Smith Square and the Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra.

Solo recitals include London’s Blackheath Halls, the Hollywell Rooms in Oxford and festivals in France, Mexico and the UK.

Chamber music projects include work with Machaca, Ruth Rogers, Gemma Rosefield, Laura Mitchell, Phuong Nguyen and the ODuo amongst others as well as duo recitals with his former teacher, Carlos Bonell.

‘Mano a Mano’

elvallesano — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 16:33:11 +0000

‘Machaca’ is an international ensemble formed by Morgan Szymanski in 2006. Their first recording, ‘Mano a Mano’ was launched at the Purcell Room in London’s South Bank on Thursday the 26th of April during La Linea ‘07, London’s famous Latin American Music Festival.

Watch video clips of the performance at the Purcell Room on Machaca’s YouTube channel.

The recording boasts an impressive line-up of artists including Ruth Rogers on violin, Gemma Rosefield on cello, Spanish pianist Jose Menor, soprano Laura Mitchell, percussion from the O-Duo, Vietnamese accordion player Phuong Nguyen, Venezuelan singer Luzmira Zerpa and the famous Sacconi String Quartet.

Highlights include the world premiere recording of Alec Roth’s ‘Quintet for Guitar and Strings’, written especially for the Sacconi Quartet and Morgan Szymanski as well as the first recording of Simone Iannarelli’s ‘Valzer Brillante’ for guitar and strings.

Other featured composers include Manuel M. Ponce, Astor Piazzolla, Leo Brouwer, Paulo Bellinati and Antonio Lauro.

Download:
‘Mano a Mano’ here:

Buy Machaca – Mano a Mano www.guitarcds.net (available from 1st of March ‘07)

Tracklisting:

1. Prelude for Harpsichord and Guitar – Manuel M. Ponce
Guest: Jose Menor (Harpsichord)

2. Bordel 1900 – Astor Piazzolla
Guest: Ruth Rogers (Violin)

3. Café 1930 – Astor Piazzolla
Guest: Phuong Nguyen (Accordion)

4. Nightclub 1960 – Astor Piazzolla
Guest: Ruth Rogers – Violin

5. Vals Criollo (Natalia) – Antonio Lauro [Listen - mp3 clip]
Guests: O Duo (Percussion) / Luzmira Zerpa (Voice and Cuatro)

6. Valzer Brillante – Simone Iannarelli (World Premiere Recording)
Guests: Sacconi Quartet

7. Danza Caracteristica – Leo Brouwer [Listen – mp3 clip]
Guest: Oliver Cox – Percussion

8. Cancion de Cuna – Leo Brouwer [Listen – mp3 clip]
Guest: Laura Mitchell – Soprano/Oliver Cox- Percussion

9. Estrellita – Manuel M. Ponce
Guest: Gemma Rosefield – Cello

10. Jongo – Paulo Bellinati [Listen - mp3 clip]
Guests: ODuo – Percussion

11. Bachianas Brazileiras No. 5 – Heitor Villa-Lobos
Guest: Laura Mitchell

12. Quintet for Guitar and Strings – Alec Roth (World Premiere Recording)
Guests: Sacconi Quartet

13. Prelude (In memoriam Lobgott Piepsam)
Danza (Papa H Dances)
Cancion (A Fine Lady)
Finale (All Around the World)

Buy Machaca – Mano a Mano www.guitarcds.net (available from 1st of March ‘07)

Irish Times Review – Dublin – November 2006

elvallesano — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 16:59:57 +0000

Mitchell / Szymanski

Coach House, Dublin Castle.

Martin Adams.
Irish Times 4/11/06.

Soprano Laura Mitchell and guitarist Morgan Szymanski are on a 7-venue Music Network Tour. Their programme of music from Spain and South America consists of original compositions inspired by folk music, of folk-song arrangements, and of guitar solos, all composed within the last 120 years.

Such an intimate programme is highly dependent on the performers having a sure aim towards the music and the audience. They have it.
Laura Mitchell’s clarity and ease of tone are ideal for music such as Rodrigo’s Three Spanish Songs, and the simple-yet-arty folk-song style of Ponce’s Three Mexican Songs. Her minute subtleties of expression, inflections of words, and bending of pitch and rhythm are the mark of a singer who knows that music of this kind cannot be over stated, and who can draw on a wealth of musicianship and technique to say the tiniest thing without fuss.

Morgan Szymanski’s guitar playing is amongst the best I have heard in a long time. In two Tangos by Piazzolla and in Tarrega’s demanding guitar arrangements of Sevilla and Cadiz from Albeniz’s Suite Espanola for piano, this Mexican-born musician’s flexible rhythmic energy and command of colour indicated a superb sense of style.

The Jota from De Falla’s Seven Spanish Folk Songs is well known in its version for full orchestra. But in this highly coloured performance from just two musicians, one forgot all about that. Mitchell and Szymanski seemed to know one another’s music as intimately as their own. They did not need to impress the audience, just to draw them in. And they did it in style, ending not with a bang, but with a rarified evocation-Villa-Lobos’ own arrangement of his Bachianas Brazileiras No.5, with the eight cellos impeccably reduced down to one guitar.

November 2006

elvallesano — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 12:10:46 +0000

1st-10th Tour of Ireland with Soprano Laura Mitchell.

Wednesday 1st: St John’s Arts Centre, Co Kerry.