J.S. Bach

Pepe Romero opened the 2014 New York Guitar Festival on Friday, January 10th at the Brookfield Place Winter Garden. We interviewed him here during his soundcheck.
This New York Guitar Festival appearance marks Maestro Romero's first ever all-Bach recital in New York.

Photos & Video by Kyoko Takenaka. 

William Kanengiser:  I’m sitting here with the great maestro Pepe Romero, discussing his All-Bach recital on January 10 that will kick off the 2014 New York Guitar Festival. Pepe, quite a few years ago, you did a series of All-Bach recitals; is this one at the Brookfield Place Winter Garden the first one in a long time?  

Pepe Romero: Well, I haven’t done it in a long time. It came as an idea of (festival director) David Spelman…he called me, and started sending me pictures of Bach on my phone (laughs)…  

WK:  To make you feel guilty!  

A Conversation with lutenist Paul O’dette

How was the theme for this year’s New York Guitar Festival Marathon chosen? POD: Instead of presenting a group of guitarists playing a wide range of repertoire over many centuries, we wanted to offer different interpretations of a very specific repertoire, so that the variety would be created by the diversity of approaches. My co-curator David Spelman proposed basing this year’s marathon on the music of Bach since it plays such an important part in the programming of most classical guitarists and, of course, lutenists. The differences in the way each guitarist approaches Bach makes for a very interesting and varied day of music-making. These can range from interpretive choices to the manner of arranging music written for one instrument to fit most convincingly on another.

Jason Vieaux, esteemed American virtuoso guitarist who’s performing as part of the 2010 New York Guitar Festival’s day-long Bach marathon at the 92nd Street Y (92y.org) on Sunday, January 31st, muses about the Baroque genius.

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