A GIFT FROM THE BLUE
GERARD COUSINS TO PLAY A MUSICAL FIRST AT CARDIFF CITY HALL
Gerard Cousins, one of Wales’ leading classical guitarists, is to perform at ‘The Chambers’ in Cardiff City Hall at 7pm on Friday May 9th.
Gerard’s appearance will be the first public concert ever to be held at this stunning and prestigious venue.
Passionate and virtuosic, Gerard takes audiences on a journey of beautiful sound. He has played concerts around the world, but now Wales’ award winning guitarist is returning to the capital of his home country with a rare concert appearance to coincide with the launch of his second album A Gift.
A Gift gets its title from a piece written by composer and jazz musician Robert Jacob. Robert and Gerard had played together performing guitar arrangements of Miles Davis great jazz album 'A kind of Blue' before Robert's untimely death in 2005. Gerard later learned that Robert had been working on a new piece, which was posthumously entitled 'A Gift' by his family and given to Gerard for the first performance at a concert dedicated to Robert.
Brecon born guitarist Gerard, who is now based in London, has stepped away from the typical Spanish repertoire of the classical guitar which he explored with his first album Una Leyanda to feature music from Cuba, Japan and the UK on his second album as well as two pieces he has composed himself.
“I’m not your typical classical guitarist. The music I play is influenced by so many different styles that it's impossible to describe in a single word. There are jazz, eastern, religious, even progressive rock influences on my new CD. My aim when I perform is to bring the audience on an intimate journey with me, exploring all the different expressions and emotions that the guitar can produce.
The Japanese composer Yoshimatsu used to play in a Pink Floyd style rock band before becoming one of Japan's leading composers of concertos and symphonies and the Cuban composer Brouwer has a totally unique style mixing minimalism with his Afro-Cuban roots.
At City Hall Gerard will perform pieces from both albums including works by Joaquin Rodrigo, Leo Brouwer, Takashi Yoshimatsu and Sir John Taverner's only composition for guitar - his haunting Chant.
Tickets for the City Hall concert are £10 (including a free glass of wine) and are available from City Hall or www.wegottickets.com/event/29519
For more information on Gerard Cousins and his performances go to www.gerardcousins.com
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