Australian Concert Review - Andrea Gonzáles Caballero, Classical Guitarist from Spain
Last month Australia was treated to a series of concerts by of the world renowned performer, Alhambra International Guitar Competition winner (and Jose Maria Vilaplana NT player) Andrea Gonzalez Caballero performing.
For those of you unable to attend, Paul Nash, President of the Classical Guitar Society of Victoria, has been kind enough to write a review of the concert.
Thanks Paul!
"Artist: Andrea Gonzáles Caballero, Classical Guitarist from Spain
Venue: Collingwood Town Hall
Date: 6th July 2023
Time: 7:00pm
We were treated to a wonderful concert before a packed house of over 800 enthusiastic people. Rarely has a visiting guitarist captured the imagination of a local Australian audience.
Andrea is one of the great new generation of Spanish classical guitarists and she managed to fit in a tour before her appearance at the Adelaide Guitar Festival 2023.
She opened with a wonderfully controlled version of “Fantasy on themes from La Traviata” by Francisco Tárrega, then 3 pieces by Regino Sainz de la Maza (Rondeña, Peterena, and Zapateado), separated by 2 Preludes by Francisco Tárrega.
These pieces were written in the late 1800’s and really showcase the beauty of the Spanish guitar.
In particular, the foot-tapping Rondeña was very brilliantly played and warmly received.
These were followed by “Torija, Manzanares el Real, and Montemayor” from Castles of Spain by Federico Moreno-Torroba where we were transported to another world from a previous era.
Andrea followed up with some Spanish songs (Coplas) that remined Andrea of her youth that were arranged for solo guitar by Carles Trepat, including Manuel López-Quiroga’s “Tatuaje,” “Ojos Verdes,” “Dime que me quieres,” and “Romance de Valentía”. A beautiful trip down memory lane.
Next came 2 pieces from the famous Spanish nationalist composer Isaac Albeniz, “Cataluña and Sevilla”, both displaying considerable virtuosity on the instrument.
That wonderful middle voice in Cataluña mesmerising the audience, followed by the sheer drama of Sevilla, made famous by Andrés Segovia in the early 20th century.
The concert program concluded with Manuel de Falla’s “Miller’s Dance” from the Tree-cornered Hat and “Spanish Dance ,La vida breve,” unbelievably arranged for solo guitar. What a showpiece the final piece was!
When I spoke to her after the concert, Andrea said that this piece, normally arranged for 2 guitars, is the hardest piece for solo guitar she has ever attempted. Her virtuosic performance brought the whole audience to their feet in wild appreciation.
Then, as an encore, we were treated to a version of Waltzing Matilda by Richard Charlton. What a wonderful finish to this incredibly memorable concert.
Congratulations Andrea for showing us the beauty, drama, and virtuosity of the solo classical guitar.
This event was organised by the entrepreneurial Michael MacManus who hopes to bring Andrea back to Australia next year.
We will certainly be looking forward to that.
Further Videos
If you would once again like see other videos of several of Andrea’s performances, click here in action,
Click here to see Andrea in performance
(note - these are earlier recordings, not Australian concert recordings)