Seville Guitar duo. Francisco Bernier, Antonio Duro (Hispaania)

Kontsert on tasuta!

FRANCISCO BERNIER (Spain)

ANTONIO DURO (Spain)

PROGRAM / 2021

Fernando Sor (1778-1939)

Fantasía op 54 bis “al estilo español”

Antón García Abril (1933-2021)

“In Memoriam”

Homenaje a la Giralda

Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983)

Canción del Árbol caído (Milonga)

Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)

Lo que vendrá (Tango)

Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996)

Bad Boy

Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999)

Tonadilla

- Allegro ma non troppo

- Minueto pomposo

- Allegro vivace

Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)

Danza del Molinero

Romance del Pescador

La Vida Breve

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“Exceptional game of colors and delicate poetry”

Diario de Sevilla, 2017

“Exuding expressiveness and praiseworthy capacity of compenetration and sensitivity” 

Correo de Andalucía, 2017

“Bernier and Duro have decided to turn into a guitar duo, and along the way have  homogenized sound and personality, showing the cleanliness and refinement of their  work as soloists, now in an amazing conjunction. They played with an extreme control,  without ever overflowing the limits of good taste...”

Diario de Sevilla, 2018

"An interpretation as attentive to details and nuances as balanced in rhythm, (...)  prodigious delicacy."

El Correo, 2019

Media:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAARDM0P4Oo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWJDvWb7ORM

https://www.facebook.com/518956162/videos/10156618295921163/

More info at www.sevillaguitarduo.com

FRANCISCO BERNIER (Spain)

First prize at the prestigious International Guitar Competition “Michele Pittaluga”  in Alessandria (Italy)

"Absolute Excellence!"

La Stampa (Italy)

"Guitarist Bernier is the first prize winner of Italy’s Michele Pittaluga Competition…He is  a fine player, with a virtuoso technique and a wide range of timbre and dynamics,  imaginative and expressive."

Kenneth Keaton

American Record Guide, July 2011 (USA)

"Bernier is a calm assured master of the guitar. That he could produce so many different  sounds and effects from this lovely little bit of wood and strings had some wondering if  magic was involved."

Murray Charters

Brantford Expositor, August 2011 (Canada)

"The performer had an excellent quality of sound, phrasings and changing of rhythm that  the audience was enthousiastic!"

El Periódico Mediterráneo (Spain)

“Performances full of warmth and feelings!”

Corriere dell’Arte (Italy)

Considered by critics as one of the world’s leading classical guitarists of his generation,  Francisco Bernier has gone on to forge a successful and prize-winning career throughout  the years. His achievements led him to perform in over 37 countries around the globe, in  prestigious venues such as the Salle Cortot and the Mogador Theatre in Paris, the Salle  Corum in Montpellier, the Grand Theatre in Bordeaux, Oji Hall in Tokyo, the Kyoto  Concert Hall, the Hermitage Museum of Saint Petersburg, Teatro Maestranza in Seville,  Teatro Comunale in Alessandria, Merkin Hall in New York, Hall of the O.E.A  (Organization of American States) in Washington D.C., and the Zellerbach Hall in San  Francisco, to name a few.

Finalist in the Concert Artist Guild of New York and recipient of more than twenty  international prizes including the “Michele Pittaluga” Competition, Francisco Bernier has  performed with many orchestras, such as the Camerata of Saint Petersburg, the  Manchester Symphony Orchestra, the Mediterranean Symphonic Orchestra, the  Symphonic Orchestra of Vallés, the Symphonic Orchestra of Huelva and the Berkeley  Symphony of San Francisco conducted by Kent Nagano.

He began his musical studies at the Conservatorio Superior de Música in Seville and he  then moved to France to continue his musical studies at the Ecole Normale "Alfred  Cortot" in Paris under the direction of Maestro Alberto Ponce. He received his Superior  Diploma of Execution and Concert Performer with distinction by means of a unanimous  decision by the jury.

From 1998 to 2002, Francisco continued his excellent education at the Hochschule für  Musik of Cologne (Germany), at the Université du Québec in Montréal (Canada), and at  Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris (France). He also attended master classes  with Alvaro Pierri, Roland Dyens, Leo Brouwer, David Russel, José Tomas, Oscar  Ghiglia and received guidance from composers, orchestra conductors and musicians  from other disciplines.

Francisco Bernier has recorded several albums, the first of them under the sponsorship  of the Ministry of Spanish-INAEM and for prestigious labels like Mandala-Harmonia  Mundi and Déclic- Radio France. Furthermore, he participated in numerous radio and  TV recordings for stations such as Deutsche Welle, Cadena Ser, R.T.V.E, R.A.I, Radio  France International, Radio Clasica, Radio Classique, France Musiques, and Nippon  NHK.

His interest in contemporary music has lead him to remain in contact with great  composers of our time, such as Luis de Pablo, José M. Sánchez Verdú, Cesar  Camarero, and José Manuel López amongst others. He is also a member of the Zahir  Ensemble.

In addition, Francisco Bernier is a laureate of various foundations, such as the Meyer  Foundation, Beracasa and BNP- PARIBAS (France), “la Caixa” Foundation (Spain), and  the Emma Contestabile Foundation (Italy).

In 2014, he was included in the top list of Spanish artists performing abroad with the help  of the Ministry of foreign affairs (AECID).

He is Doctor in Arts by the prestigious University of Music "F. Chopin" in Warsaw  (Poland)

Francisco currently teaches at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Seville. He is the  Founder and Artistic Director of the Seville Guitar Festival and President and Founder  of Contrastes Records (London).

ANTONIO DURO (Spain)

“… Antonio Duro exhibits a great interpretive maturity and it is clear that he does not  reach contemporary music by exclusion but by an artistic and intellectual commitment  with the nowadays music. Serious guitarist with no concessions... Excellent  interpretation”

Diario de Códoba, 1998

“Technically impeccable and exquisite musical means ... an admirable recital." 

El Correo, 2001

“Antonio Duro belongs to a brilliant generation of guitarists who have made Seville one  of the international capitals of this instrument. His interpretation is based on a solid  technique that allows him to face the scores with security and clarity…the recital was a  generous exercise of musicality,… such a luxury.”

Diario de Sevilla, 2009

“Antonio Duro exhibited great sensitivity, attention to detail and intellectual approach.” 

El Correo, 2009

“As representative of the magnificent level exhibited by Zahir Ensemble we need to  mention the delirious virtuosity of Antonio Duro with the electric guitar...” 

Diario de Sevilla, 2016

Antonio Duro, considered by critics as “one of the most seriousness performers and with  finest technique” (Diario de Sevilla, 2010) is owner of a large artistic career which has  firmly established his name on the current classical music scene along numerous solo  recitals, orchestra collaborations and chamber music concerts in Spain and countries as  France, Germany, Italy, Slovakya, England, Austria, Luxembourg, Turkey, Marocco,  Estonia, Ukraine, India, Israel, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Denmark or Finland.

Duro received his musical education at the Conservatorio Superior of Música of Cordoba  and Seville with masters Miguel Barberá, Manuel Abella and José María Pichardo and  completed his studies with big names of the guitar world such Leo Brouwer, Alirio Díaz,  Alberto Ponce, José Miguel Moreno, Eliot Fisk, Manuel Barrueco and David Russell  among others. Also interested in criteria of historicist interpretation, he attended  masterclasses with specialists such as Gerardo Arriaga, Hopkinson Smith, Pat O'Brien  and Juan Carlos Rivera.

After graduating with honors, later obtained several awards in contests performance as  Permanent Competition for Young Performers of Musical Youths of Spain (1994), XVI  International Festival of Normandy (1985), II International Guitar Competition "Alhambra"  (Alcoy, 1994), International Guitar Competition of Vélez-Málaga (1993-94), International  Festival of Cantabria (Comillas, 1995), International Guitar Competition "Andrés Segovia" (La Herradura, 1997), International Competitions for Guitar Duos of  Bubenreuth (Germany, 2000) and Montelimar (France, 2001).

Among his appearences with orchestra are the collaboration with Real Orquesta  Sinfónica de Sevilla during the Homage to Ennio Morricone conducting the composer  himself, the recording of the Cd “Melancolia” for the label Deustche Grammophon beside  Orquesta Nacional de España with Josep Pons conducting and the French sopran  Patricia Petibon, and concerts with Orquesta de Cámara “Manuel Castillo” of Sevilla,  Orquesta de Cámara “Manuel de Falla” de Cádiz, Orchestra Mouvement 12 of Normandy  and Bratislava Symphony Orchestra.

He has recorded a CD for the label Lindoro entitled “Forget me not” devoted to music of  Exiled Spanish composers from the XIXth Century wich was aclaimbed by critics as a  recording of “exquisite sensitivity and musical means, deep cultural vision and an  irreproachable technique” (Scherzo Review), a collaboration on the Cd recording “Music  for voice” with music of current composers for the Musical Documentation Centre of  Andalucia, and several live recordings for Spanish National Radio (RNE 2). He has also  recorded the music of different scenic projects of Theater (“Las Tres Gracias” for the  Andalusian Theater Centre), Cinema (“Sangre de Mayo” by the Spanish Director Jose  Luis Garci) or Contemporany Dance (“Musica Callada”), and this versatility has also led  him to participate in others chamber music projects of Ancient Music or Flamenco  (Goyescas, "JRT, Painter and Flamenco").

As a result of his interest for modern creation and contemporary music Antonio Duro has  established frequent associations with many composers and specialized ensembles as  Taller Sonoro or Zahir Ensemble, expanding his own technique to the wide possibilities  of the electric guitar. He is also co-founder of the project Guitar+, a collaboration between  several Schools of Music and Universities dedicated to enhance the possibilities of the  modern chamber music with guitar within the Erasmus Project frame.

Antonio Duro combines his artistic activity with his teaching work in the city of Seville  occupying a Chair of Guitar at the Conservatory of Music "Manuel Castillo" and as a  guest professor of the Master's Degree in Guitar at the Pablo de Olavide University, while  he is regularly invited to to give courses and masterclasses in numerous Conservatories,  Universities and Upper Schools of Music.