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A dynamic and innovative ensemble known for its extraordinary ensemble in performance, expansive repertoire and ground breaking work in developing the guitar quartet medium. The quartet has performed extensively across the UK and abroad to critical acclaim, and is admired for its original arrangements of music from a wide range of styles, periods and cultures. The group also frequently performs new works by internationally renowned composers such as Clarice Assad (Brazil), Phillip Houghton (Australia), Stephen Dodgson (UK) and Nikita Koshkin (Russia) as well as drawing on existing repertoire.
Formed originally at the Royal Northern College of Music (in 1999), under the guidance of Craig Ogden and Gordon Crosskey, the quartet went on to study with renowned guitarists such as Sérgio Assad, Oscar Ghiglia and Scott Tennant. Since then, they have received many awards and in 2009 were signed exclusively to Chandos Records. The first two albums, “Dances” (released in June 2010) and “Spirit of Brazil” (March 2009) both received excellent reviews from the press. BBC Music Magazine awarded “Spirit of Brazil” five stars for both performance and recording, commenting: “With outstanding playing and infectious spirit, this is no mere niche guitar CD, but a luscious and lively general-appeal winner” and International Record Review said of the quartet: “If one guitar quartet can give a traditional string quartet a run for its money in terms of abundant technique and breathtaking artistry, it is the Aquarelle Guitar Quartet”.
Their subsequent disc ‘Final Cut’, featuring the group’s own arrangements of celebrated film themes, was chosen as Classic FM Drive’s CD of the week, on its release in June, was given a five stars review by Time Out Magazine and has since been given exceptional praise by Sinfini Music (Universal), International Record Review and American Record Guide.
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SCBP28th February 2016
Perthshire's only online magazine