We had our second Guitar Ensemble concert of the semester this week. It was a program featuring music for guitar with a number of different partners, from the common (voice, flute) to the unusual (bass). The beautiful ambient sound of Kulas Recital Hall, as always, helped showcase the chamber music textures on display in a way the audience surely appreciated.

We began with guitarist Dani Bocsi, in a presentation of two works for guitar and double bass, as expressively played by Isabel Sanso. Dani is one of only a handful of non-conservatory students who has ever enrolled in Guitar Ensemble. His accomplishments this semester were outstanding. They played two pieces, one by de Falla (Nana) and one by Laguna (Natalia). (The full program is at the end of the post). The effect was compelling.

Dani Bocsi and Isabel Sanso on stage in Kulas Hall

This set was followed by one of our long-standing favorites, Piazzolla’s l’Histoire du Tango. Flutist Jonah Ordower joined Rio Manzanares for this spirited outing.

Rio Manzanares and Jonah Ordower in Kulas Hall

Another flute and guitar duet followed, Pujol’s Suite Buenos Aires. Dani Bocsi returned to the stage and was joined by flutist Parv Gosai for this highly engaging Latin-styled piece.

The program concluded with the remarkable song cycle Anon In Love by William Walton. Long a favorite of mine, its difficulty keeps it from being played often. But, as offered up by soprano Isabel Merat and guitarist Aleksandr Lapshin, it sounded absolutely confident and clear, with the challenging pitches and rhythms landing perfectly. The audience loved it.