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Flamenco guitar has risen to new heights overtaking any other style of guitar and folkloric music since the 70's. In the 90's, the genre has moved on into a form of musical genius encompassing ever more powerful rhythms and dazzling speeds.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will bring two stunning flamenco guitar recitals by the globally renowned Esteban Antonio to local audience. The recitals will be held in the Sha Tin Town Hall Cultural Activities Hall at 8pm on October 20 (Friday) and the North District Town Hall Auditorium at 8pm on October 21 (Saturday).
During the recitals, Antonio will perform his own works that are full of religious feel. Programmes in the first recital, named as "La Catedral - Renacimiento" (The Cathedral - Born Again), include "La montana de rosas" (The Mountain of Roses), "El jardin de Getsemani" (The Garden of Gethsemane), "La cruz" (The Cross), "Lagrimas del cielo" (Tears from Heaven), etc. It will be a spiritual journey into the greatest inspirer of art in Spain and its action within modern Spain today. While in the second performance "Paredes de sangre" (The Walls of Blood), Antonio will take audience into a graphic journey round Andalucia and explain the forms and reasons and compasses of each piece inspired by each town in each region which bore the fruit of flamenco. He will play "Cancion de mi corazon" (Song of the Heart), "Garcela del nino muerto" (Poem to the Dead Child), "Paredes de sangre" (The Walls of Blood), "Duende", etc.
Esteban Antonio began playing guitar at the age of three and started formal classical training at nine when he won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music, London. He studied classical guitar with John Williams and his disciples, as well as piano, violin, orchestration and composition. His favourite was flamenco and he has studied with the two greatest flamenco guitarists in the world, Paco de Lucia and Manolo Sanlucar. Antonio has become the youngest player in the world (and remains so) to perform the formidable "Concierto de Aranjuez by Rodrigo", one of the hardest pieces in the classical guitar repertoire, when he was eleven.
His career started in his early teens, touring with the renowned Antonio Vargas Company. From then on, he has written many dance pieces and toured in Germany, France, North America and Japan. In 1992 he formed a flamenco dance company in Montreal and performed in the province of Quebec and Ontario.
Performed extensively in Spain, Antonio has worked with George Michael and David Bowie. He also played as featured flamenco guitarist in Kander and Ebb's "The World Goes Round". In September 1998, he made a sweeping success in Hong Kong "Paredes de sangre" with popular demand for two more concerts in addition to the sold-out original four.
Antonio has evolved a new style of playing, moving flamenco into the 21st century and uses new tunings and musical strategies that have opened new doors in the harmonic language of flamenco.
Tickets priced at $100 for both venues and $80 for the North District Town Hall are now available at all URBTIX outlets, with half-price concessions for senior citizens, people with disabilities and full-time students. There will also be a discount of 15% for Friends of Sha Tin Town Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall, Tsuen Wan Town Hall and Kwai Tsing Theatre.
Programme enquiries can be made on 2734 2935 while ticketing enquiries and reservations on 2734 9009.
End/Wednesday, September 27, 2000
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