David Russell, Scotland (Cleveland Debut)
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Beloved by audiences around the world, David Russell continues to distinguish himself as one of the prodigious performers of our time. A musical virtuoso with a captivating stage presence, he is lauded for not only his technical mastery, but also his soft-spoken conviction. Despite his incredible success, he remains devoted to advancing the repertoire and future of the classical guitar.
In recognition of his extraordinary talent, the Scottish-born Mr. Russell was named a Fellow by London's Royal Academy of Music. He has won virtually every international guitar competition, and composers Guido Santorsola, Jorge Morel, Francis Kleynjans and Carlo Domeniconi all have dedicated works to him.
David Russell has released ten critically acclaimed recordings on the Telarc label over the last decade. His 2004 offering, Aire Latino: Latin American Music For Guitar, is hailed as a "beautiful disc, plain and simple." In David Russell Plays Bach (2003), he is praised for his "precise articulation, expressive phrasing and an amazing range of colour." His 2002 Reflections of Spain, assembling the country's best-loved and most characteristic guitar repertoire, includes several of his own arrangements. These discs are preceded by Plays Baroque Music, in which Mr. Russell performs his own transcriptions of scores by Vivaldi, Handel, Scarlatti and Loeillet; Music of Giuliani, an all-Guiliani disc; and Message of the Sea, a collection of Celtic music for guitar.
His widely acclaimed Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez and More features Mr. Russell with renowned conductor Erich Kunzel and the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra in three works by Spanish-born composer Joaquin Rodrigo. The Music of Federico Moreno Torroba is representative of the collaborative efforts by Torroba and Andres Segovia to create a 20th century concert repertoire for the guitar. His first Telarc disc, Cathedral: Music of Barrios, features 19 lesser-known pieces by Paraguayan guitarist-composer Augustin Barrios Mangore, earning Mr. Russell critical praise for his astute selection of the pieces and the "technical ease" and "understated virtuosity" with which he performs them.
A harmonious blending of his Scottish heritage, Spanish-influenced upbringing (his family moved to Menorca when he was a young boy) and diverse music education contribute to Mr. Russell's unique style. He began his guitar studies with his father, also an accomplished guitarist, and moved to London at age 16 to attend the Royal Academy of Music, where he also studied violin and french horn. A two-time winner of the Julian Bream Guitar Prize, Mr. Russell is also a past winner of the Andres Segovia and Francisco Tarrega competitions. When not touring, Mr. Russell teaches master classes and participates in classical guitar festivals. He is immensely popular on college campuses in the United States, Canada and overseas.
Artist's Website: davidrussellguitar.com/