The November 2008 issue of Classical Guitar Magazine features Morgan Szymanski on its cover and includes a three page interview with photos. Interviewed by Oliver McGhee, the interview includes discussions on technique, life as a musician, influences and future plans.
www.classicalguitarmagazine.com
This year saw the fruition of collaborations with distinguished artists, instrumentalists and orchestras, leading to a varied output of repertoire and performances. Collaborations in 2008 included performances with John Williams (guitar), the Sacconi Quartet, Odeion Quartet (South Aftrica), Gemma Rosefield (‘cello), Alison Balsom (trumpet), Clara Andrada (flute), Ruth Rogers (violin), Mark Padmore (tenor), Machaca, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Cadogan Hall and Fairfield Halls), Southbank Sinfonia, Bournemouth Symphony and the CBSO Youth Orchestra.
Recordings included the release of ‘Songs in Time of War’ – the music of Alec Roth on the Signum Label (www.signumrecords.com)) with Mark Padmore, Phillipe Honore and Alison Nicholls. Morgan also recorded Heitor Villa-Lobos’s ‘Prelude No.1’ for Ginkgo Music (www.ginkgomusic.com), project Tropical Forest Ecuador. Profits from this CD will go towards the preservation of the Ecuatorian rain forest.
Premieres included the world premiere of Morgan Szymanski’s ‘Zambezi Sarabande’, for children’s choir, massed marimbas and guitars and string quartet – performed at the closure of the Bulawayo Music Festival in Zimbabwe. The collaboration between Morgan Szymanski and ODuo, which already includes a wealth of repertoire by Piazzolla, Machado, Brouwer, Ponce and Lauro led to the creation of a new piece for guitar and percussion: ‘Los Ambulantes’ by Stephen McNeff. ‘Los Ambulantes’ are the street vendors, jugglers, clowns, musicians, acrobats and dancers that live on the streets of Mexico City. The work was premiered at the Wigmore Hall, and was performed at the Mexico tour of Machaca, to critical acclaim. The arrangements of ‘Five English Folk Songs’ by Alec Roth for tenor and guitar were premiered at a concert for the Rochdale Music Society with Mark Padmore.