Guitar Recital: Rovshan Mamedkuliev

Rovshan Mamedkuliev was first prize-winner at the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America Competition in 2012, and now stands as one of the world’s most exciting young instrumentalists. He has constructed a programme with several themes. Iberian music is represented by Falla, Albéniz and Turina, and by two of the titans of guitar playing, Miguel Llobet and Francisco Tárrega. He also includes music by his Azerbaijani compatriot, Fikret Amirov, whose folkloric-influenced music is another thematic link. The kaleidoscopic Just How Funky Are You by Andrew York and Leo Brouwer’s An Idea explore the guitar’s contemporary vitality. This recital disc demonstrates a number of facets at Mahmedkuliev’s disposal. He celebrates the Spanish lineage of the instrument with some canonic pieces, but also appeals more widely via contemporary music and by promoting the music of his compatriot. This disc will appeal both to admirers of this exciting new guitarist and to his repertoire choices.