Segovia Classical Guitar Series Runs Through Winter and Spring

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Upcoming recitals by well-known artists Paul O’Dette, the Waller and Maxwell Duo, Ekachai Jearakul and Alvaro Pierri will continue the 2015-16 Segovia Classical Guitar Series programming at Northwestern University through spring.

Co-presented by the University’s Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music and the Chicago Classical Guitar Society, the series honors Andrés Segovia (1893-1987), a virtuoso Spanish classical guitarist, who is widely considered by scholars to be one of the greatest classical guitarists of the 20th century. Many also think of him as the father of the modern classical guitar movement.

The remaining 2015-16 Segovia Classical Guitar Series programs will take place on the University’s Evanston campus in the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Center for the Musical Arts’ 400-seat Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall, 70 Arts Circle Drive. The recital hall’s interior features state-of-the art acoustics and a soaring glass wall that faces south, offering stunning views of the Chicago skyline. 

Segovia Classical Guitar Series

• Paul O’Dette will showcase his mastery of the music of Renaissance composer John Dowland at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23. Best known for his recitals and recordings of virtuoso solo lute music, O’Dette has performed and conducted at festivals throughout the world, including Boston, Sweden, Paris, London and Barcelona. He also is an active member of Tragicomedia, a continuo ensemble acclaimed for its recordings and performances of 17th-century operas, cantatas and oratorios.

• The Waller and Maxwell Duo will perform music by Schumann, Falla and Britten at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14. Bienen School faculty member Anne Waller and Mark Maxwell have toured the U.S. and Europe for more than 30 years. Their unique programming of works for both 19th-century and modern guitars provides rare insight into the evolution of this enthralling art. The duo’s recital will feature performance works for four or more guitars when they are joined on stage by Bienen School guitar program alumni, including guitarists Brandon Acker, James Baur, Elina Chekan, Jesse Langen, Brian Torosian and Steven Vasquez. The program will include music by Diabelli, Schumann, Falla, Britten, Torroba and Brouwer.

• Ekachai Jearakul will continue the series with works by Leo Brouwer, Luigi Legnani, Johann Mertz and others at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 12. In addition to his 2014 win in the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition, Jearakul has received a dozen first prizes at competitions in Europe, Asia and North America. He has appeared with the Buffalo Philharmonic and orchestras across the globe, including Thailand, the Ukraine and South Korea.

• The Segovia series will conclude with a recital by guitar virtuoso Alvaro Pierri at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 24. Pierri is a frequent performer at major concert halls in Europe, North and South America and Asia. In addition to his distinguished solo career, he is sought after as a teacher and ensemble player, performing and giving master classes on nearly every continent. Pierri began winning awards at the age of 11, including First Prize in the International Guitar Competition in Buenos Aires.

Tickets

Tickets are $30 for the general public and $10 for students with valid IDs. Subscriptions to these remaining concerts are still available, allowing patrons to enjoy new benefits and save up to 20 percent off the cost of single tickets.

Information 

For more information, call the Bienen School of Music Concert Management Office at 847- 491-5441 or visit concertsatbienen.org. To order tickets, call the Bienen School Ticket Office at 847-467-4000 or visit concertsatbienen.org.