GREAT CHINA TOUR CHAMBER MUSIC Duo Walker & Szymanski, UK/Mexico, 2010 | Duo Walker & Szymanski, UK/Mexico, 2010 |
   Tour Dates
Tour Dates: 20 May - 31 May, 2010 “...expect vibrancy and passion from these emerging performers...” Adam Walker – flute
Born in 1987, Adam Walker taught himself to play the flute at the age of 9. A year later he entered Chetham's School of Music, where he studied with and in 2005 won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music where he studies with Michael Cox. He was selected as a representative by Young Concert Artists Trust (YCAT) in 2007. In 2002 Adam became the youngest ever to win of the British Flute Society Competition and in 2004, he was a Concerto Finalist in the BBC Young Musicians Competition performing Nielsen's Flute Concerto with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ilan Volkov. Over the last year Adam has made his debut at the Proms with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields at the Barbican, performed Joe Duddell’s Flute & Harp Concerto at Presteigne Festival and given recitals at Wigmore Hall, Mozart BathFest, Spitalfields and Isle of Man Festivals, the latter broadcast by BBC Radio 3. As a soloist, Adam has appeared with the Hallé Orchestra at Bridgewater Hall, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Cadogan Hall, and with the City of Birmingham and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestras. He has given recitals throughout the UK, in Paris and Madrid and at the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival in Germany with harpist and pianist John Reid and worked with Trevor Pinnock, Iain Burnside at Cadogan Hall and London Conchord at Conway Hall. Reviews “After the interval we were treated to more heady sensuality in a restrained yet wonderfully evocative performance of Debussy's Prélude a l'après-midi d'un faune in which Adam Walker's solo flute playing was quite simply superb...” “Adam Walker and Sally Pryce were the young and phenomenally talented soloists in Mozart's Concerto for Flute and Harp, K299, exquisitely played and flawless in its perfection...” “Hall One highlights, for me, were ….the brilliant young flautist Adam Walker playing Varèse.” “Adam Walker treated us all to the most thoughtful, contemplative interpretation of Carl Nielsen's Flute concerto, entirely focused on bringing out the beauty and lovely singing quality of his flute, playing a piece supremely suited to that intention. He was clearly lost in the music and played it with all the delicacy and drama it needed...”
Over the last year Morgan has been selected as ‘One to Watch’ by Gramophone Magazine and BBC Music Magazine, and was the featured artist on the cover of Classical Guitar Magazine. Future plans include a new concerto commission with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, his debut at the Konzerthaus in Vienna, a recital at the Bermuda Festival and a return visit to Mexico with Machaca, an international ensemble he formed in 2006. Since winning the first prize in the 2002 National Guitar Competition in Mexico, Morgan has given performances as soloist and with orchestras at major venues and festivals throughout Europe: in Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, and further afield in Zimbabwe, Mexico, Guatemala and the USA. During the 2008/09 season, he gave recitals at Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, Sage Gateshead, King’s Place and the London International Guitar Festival, and appeared as soloist with the Hallé, Bournemouth Symphony, CBSO Youth, Macedonian Philharmonic and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras. As an exceptionally versatile musician, he has also given duo concerts with Mark Padmore, Alison Balsom, Carlos Bonnell and Priya Mitchell. In April he returned to Mexico City Festival with Machaca, an international ensemble he formed in 2006, whose first recording Mano a Mano was released as part of the La Linea Latin American Festival and was described by Gramophone magazine as ‘a real jewel of a disc, with Szymanski demonstrating that he’s not only a soloist of formidable talent but also that rare thing among guitarists: a fine chamber musician' (July 2007). Morgan regularly collaborates with O Duo (Oliver Cox and Owen Gunnell percussion), and has given concerts with them throughout Europe; and also with composer Alec Roth, whose guitar quintet was especially written for him, and whose collaboration with Vikram Seth called Songs in Time of War and Chinese Songs he recently recorded on the Signum Label with Mark Padmore. His own recordings include The Unicorn in the Garden which was released in 2005 to critical acclaim and in 2006 he composed the original soundtrack to the award winning Mexican documentary ‘Toro Negro’. More recently 2008 saw the premiere of his Zambezi Sarabande for the Bulawayo Music Festival in Zimbabwe. Other collaborations have included duo recitals with Carlos Bonell in Mexico and London, the Cervantes Choir, Luzmira Zerpa and Vietnamese accordion player Phuong Nguyen. Reviews “‘Mano a mano’ is a real jewel of a disc, with Szymanski demonstrating that he’s not only a soloist of formidable talent but also that rare thing among guitarists: a fine chamber musician.” “As soloist in Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, Morgan Szymanski brought rhapsodic freedom of nuance and crispness of articulation to enliven this regrettably hackneyed piece...” “Rodrigo, whose famous Concierto de Aranjuez was given an elegant account by the personable soloist Morgan Szymanski. Discreetly miked in this remarkable acoustic, all the dynamic nuances and eloquent colourings of a reading which otherwise might have impressed for technical brilliance alone came through...!” “Morgan Szymanski’s guitar playing is amongst the best I have heard in a long time. In two Tangos by Piazzolla and in Tarrega’s demanding guitar arrangements of Sevilla and Cadiz from Albeniz’s Suite Espanola for piano, this Mexican-born musician’s flexible rhythmic energy and command of colour indicated a superb sense of style...”
For booking inquiry please contact: Mr. Ma Ran
Chamber Music May 2010 - Walker & Szymanski 1 Chamber Music May 2010 - Walker & Szymanski 2 Chamber Music May 2010 - Walker & Szymanski 3 Chamber Music May 2010 - Walker & Szymanski 4 Chamber Music May 2010 - Walker & Szymanski 5 Chamber Music May 2010 - Walker & Szymanski 6 Chamber Music May 2010 - Walker & Szymanski 7 Chamber Music May 2010 - Walker & Szymanski 8 Chamber Music May 2010 - Walker & Szymanski 9 Chamber Music May 2010 - Walker & Szymanski 10 |
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In 2009, at the age of 21, Adam Walker was the appointed principal flute of the London Symphony Orchestra and received the ‘Outstanding Young Artist Award’ at the MIDEM Classique Awards in Cannes, in partnership with the International Artist Managers’ Association. Engagements during the 2009/10 season include appearances as soloist with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra at the Konzerthaus, the Solistes Européens at the Philharmonie in Luxembourg and with Northern Sinfonia conducted by Janusz Piotrowicz at the Ripon International Festival._6.jpg)
Born in Mexico City, Morgan Szymanski studied at the Royal College of Music and Conservatorium van Amsterdam nd graduated with first class honours. He immediately went on to become the first solo guitarist to be selected by YCAT and was the first guitarist to be awarded a Junior Fellowship at the RCM.