Two beautiful guitar pieces by Gerard Drozd. Five Poetical Sketches op. 163, performed by the Hungarian classical guitarist András Csáki, and Variations on a theme of Sor op. 59, performed by Quatuor Éclisses (Eclisses Guitar Quartet). Both pieces recorded live at the Gliwice Guitar Festival. Enjoy.

András Csáki

András Csáki
András Csáki

András Csáki was born in Budapest in 1981 and began to play the guitar at the age of 11. He graduated at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music with honor in 2007, where his professor was József Eötvös. In 2012/2013 he pursued graduate studies in the University of Southern California as a student of Scott Tennant. He received his Doctorate degree in 2014 at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music.

Since 1995 András has been a regular participant of international master classes all over the world, including master classes held by Manuel Barrueco, Leo Brouwer, Abel Carlevaro, Costas Cotsiolis, David Russell, Angel and Pepe Romero.

Until the year of 2011 he received 24 prizes, among others he was awarded the first prize in the 51st Tokyo International Guitar Competition in 2008, and in the 42nd “Michele Pittaluga” Guitar Competition in Alessandria, Italy 2009, Julian Arcas Guitar Competition, Spain 2011.

Besides solo recitals, he is also devoted to chamber music. He has had several opportunities to play guitar concertos with symphonic orchestras in Hungary and abroad.

He has frequently been asked to give master classes in various countries, such as China, Estonia, France, Great Britain, Greece, India, Romania, Russia, USA and his native Hungary. At the moment he is appointed professor at Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest.

Quatuor Éclisses (Eclisses Guitar Quartet)

Eclisses Guitar Quartet
Quatuor Éclisses (Eclisses Guitar Quartet)

Since 2012, Quatuor Éclisses is part of the French musical landscape. These four guitarists give a new breath to classical guitar. They make us rediscover the instrument, with ambitious and innovative transcriptions of the great piano and orchestra’s repertoire.

In 2013, they won the first prize of the Chamber Music European Contest (FNAPEC), succeeding to the trio Wanderer or the quartet Ysaÿe. In 2014, they are laureates of the Banque Populaire’s foundation.

Members of the quartet are:

Gabriel Bianco
Arkaitz Chambonnet
Pierre Lelievre
Benjamin Valette

Besides its artistic activity, Quatuor Éclisses meets students in conservatoires in order to share its experience and its passion with young guitarists, through MasterClasses.

Gerard Drozd
Gerard Drozd

Born in Gliwice, Poland, Gerard Drozd is a versatile composer and guitarist. As a composer has written more than 250 compositions for one or more guitars, for piano, voice etc… Among his works are four Concertos with orchestra, Concerto “Carpe Diem” for guitar and string quartet, Concerto for two guitars and string quartet, String quartets, 24 Preludes for guitar, 24 Preludes and Fugues for guitar, 24 Preludes for piano, 24 Preludes and Fugues for piano, Sonatas, Suites, Chamber music, Soli Deo Gloria for soprano and guitar and much more. His music has been played by very well-known artists in USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Bolivia, Japan, China, Thailand, South Korea, Iran, Turkey, Morocco, England, Greece, Italy, Spain, Austria, France, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Croatia, Montenegro, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Belorussia and elsewhere. His compositions Adagio op.44 and Triptych op.102 are on the CD “Hemispheres” by Lily Afshar, Yiddish Impression op.107 is on the CD “Puentes” by Marcelo de la Puebla, Dreams of a Clown on the CD “Suite enfantine” by Liat Cohen, Five studies op.88 on the CD “Dialogues” by Antonio De Innocentis, Adagio op. 44 on the CD “Guitar Recital” by Philip Hemmo, Berceuse op.56 on the CD “Premieres” by Hilary Field and Adagio op. 44 on the CD “In the beginning” by Zoran Dukic. Several of his compositions have been published in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Belorussia, and Poland. The composer refers to his harmonic language as a “kaleidoscopic”. His exquisite treatment of counterpoint and unexpected melodic elements are attractive features in his music. Music critics say that he has an attractive, intelligent, interesting, and very personal musical language.

Gerard Drozd is both creator and artistic director of the International Gliwice Guitar Festival.

Sources

M. Özgür Nevres

Published by M. Özgür Nevres

I am Özgür Nevres, a software engineer, a former road racing cyclist, and also an amateur musician. I opened andantemoderato.com to share my favorite music. I also take care of stray cats & dogs. This website's all income goes directly to our furry friends. Please consider supporting me on Patreon, so I can help more animals!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.