Classical guitarist Thibaut Garcia to release debut album ‘Leyendas’ on Erato Sept 2, including works by Albeniz, De Falla, Rodrigo, Piazzolla and more

“The new face of classical guitar”
— Classical Guitar Magazine

22-year-old guitarist Thibaut Garcia makes his Erato debut with Leyendas (Legends), an atmospheric recital of music by Spanish and Argentinian composers: Albéniz, De Falla, Rodrigo, Tárrega (his famous, shimmering Recuerdos de la Alhambra), Manjón and Piazzolla. Thibaut will also tour the US this Fall/Winter with over 60 concerts, masterclasses, and outreach programs including stops at prominent venues like Carnegie Hall (March 15, 2017).

“For my first album with Erato, I wanted to show the guitar in its full glory. These legendary works are so close to my heart because they are part of my life and my travels. I wanted this first recording to be full of energy, sun, emotion, pain and tenderness – and to focus on repertoire that has been sustained me since my childhood.”

“Most of the works on Leyendas evoke Spanish or Argentinian cities where I have spent time: from Seville and Granada to Buenos Aires, passing through the Basque Country and Asturias. This meant I was able to give every piece a personal quality, as if each one featured in a travel diary.”

“This is music which made me love the guitar and which also reminds me of my Spanish roots. It shows various facets of the instrument, from the more popular style of Piazzola’s Estaciones Porteñas and De Falla’s Siete canciones populares españolas to the more classical, intimate and elegant world of Albéniz. I am a great fan of music from the early 20th century – it displays the full palette of colors that the guitar can offer.”

Making a guest appearance on the album is Erato cellist Edgar Moreau, who plays in the group of pieces by De Falla. “This was the first time Edgar and I played together,” says Garcia. “It felt spontaneous, like two friends getting to know each other.”

While Leyendas focuses primarily on music from the last century, Garcia takes a panoramic view of his instrument, and Baroque and contemporary music – including new works – also feature strongly in his performing repertoire. He has many more stories to tell us …
TRACKLIST

ISAAC ALBÉNIZ (1860–1909): Extracts from Suite No.1 Op. 47

[1] Asturias / Leyenda – Arr. O. Chassain

[2] Sevilla – Arr. F. Tarrega & M. Llobet

[3] ANTONIO JIMÉNEZ MANJÓN (1866–1919): Aire vasco Op. 19

MANUEL DE FALLA (1876–1946): Siete canciones populares españolas
Arr. M. Llobet, rev. E. Pujol

[4] El paño moruno

[5] Seguidilla murciana

[6] Asturiana

[7] Jota

[8] Nana

[9] Canción

[10] Polo

[11] JOAQUIN RODRIGO (1901–1999): Invocación y danza
Hommage à Manuel De Falla

ASTOR PIAZZOLLA (1921–1992): Estaciones Porteñas

Arr. S. Assad

[12] Primavera Porteña

[13] Verano Porteño

[14] Otoño Porteño

[15] Invierno Porteño

[16] FRANCISCO TÁRREGA (1852–1909): Recuerdos de la Alhambra

TOUR DATES

USA: September 2016 – April 2017 : 60 concerts including Carnegie Hall

9/10/16 Scranton, PA

9/15/16 Louisville, KY

9/18/16 Cincinnati, OH

9/21/16 Oberlin, OH

9/24/16 Pensacola, FL

10/1/16 St. Louis, MO

10/4/16 Buies Creek, NC

10/7/16 Portland, OR

10/13/16 Indianapolis, IN

10/21/16 Flagstaff, AZ

10/22/16 Phoenix, AZ

10/27/16 Kalamazoo, MI

10/30/16 Detroit, MI

11/3/16 Grand Rapids, MI

11/4/16 Youngstown, OH

11/6/16 Hartford, CT

11/9/16 Williamsburg, VA

11/11/16 Norfolk, VA

11/14/16 Charleston, SC

12/10/16 Minneapolis, MN

1/14/17 Austin, TX

1/21/17 Houston, TX

1/22/17 San Antonio, TX

1/26/17 Stuart, FL

1/28/17 Miami, FL

1/31/17 Tallahassee, FL

2/3/17 Tampa, FL

2/4/17 Sarasota, FL

2/11/17 Vancouver, BC

2/14/17 Cheyenne, WY

2/17/17 San Jose, CA

2/18/17 Orange County, CA

3/3/17 Tucson, AZ

3/10/17 Columbus, OH

3/11/17 Evanston, IL

3/15/17 New York City, NY

3/18/17 Sudbury, ONT

3/24/17 Brownsville, TX

3/24/17 Edinburg, TX

3/25/17 Brownsville, TX

3/28/17 Monterrey, CA

4/2/17 Albany, NY

4/6/17 Edmonton, BC

4/8/17 Calgary, BC

4/14/17 Albuquerque, NM

4/20/17 Winnipeg, MB

4/22/17 Wilmington, DE

ABOUT THIBAUT GARCIA

Thibaut Garcia was born in Toulouse. His father played flamenco and classical guitar and Thibaut was given his first instrument when he was just seven years old. He went on to study in his home city and at the age of 16 entered the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, from which he graduated with special honours. Between 2008 and 2015 he won first prize in no fewer than six international competitions in Spain, Germany, Romania and the USA. Two important victories in Spain resulted in invitations to play around Europe, in Russia, China, the USA and Latin America, while his triumph at the Guitar Foundation of America’s competition in 2015 led to 50 dates in the USA, including a recital at Carnegie Hall.

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