Guitarists Marc Teicholz, left, and Michael Partington have performed around the world. They bring their artistry to Twisp on April 11.
Two internationally celebrated classical guitarists will present a concert of duos at Confluence Gallery in Twisp on Wednesday, April 11, at 7 p.m.
Marc Teicholz and Michael Partington came together in 1997 at the Northwest Festival with a serendipity that launched a remarkable musical collaboration. Teicholz was the headline musician and also a juror for the festival’s competition – which Partington won.
The two quickly developed a relationship as friends and musical partners, ultimately performing regularly together around the world. A highlight was a series of concerts in 10th-century churches along the Camino de Santiago in Spain three years ago. They followed that with two tours in the Pacific Northwest.
At their Twisp concert, the duo will perform arrangements of chamber music repertoire that showcase the lyricism and expressiveness of the guitar, including a movement from a Haydn string quartet and a piano sonata by Beethoven.
They’ll also perform several pieces by some of the great composers for guitar, including “Souvenir de Russie” by romantic composer Fernando Sor; and “El Círculo Mágico” and “La Vida Breve,” ballet and opera music by the early-20th-century Spanish composer Manuel de Falla.
Both Teicholz and Partington are proponents of contemporary music for the guitar and have had works composed especially for them. The Confluence concert includes “Of a Summer Evening,” an evocative work by acclaimed contemporary composer David Conte.
Teicholz has been praised as “arguably the best of the new young guitarists” and “among the best we have ever heard.” He received first prize at the 1989 International Guitar Foundation of America Competition and a prize at the New York East-West Artists Competition two years later.
Teicholz has even been featured on a soundtrack for George Lucas’ “Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.” He is on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory.
Partington began playing guitar at age 6 while growing up in Wales, gave his first performance the following year, and won his first competition at age 9. Since then, he has studied with many of the world’s greatest guitarists and racked up multiple awards.
Partington has been praised for his “exquisite good taste and fluid perfection” and “lyricism, intensity and clear technical command.” He’s known for his innate understanding of rhythm and sense for tonal color, which blend in memorable phrasing on the instrument. He is artist-in-residence and director of the guitar program at the University of Washington.
Both Teicholz and Partington have performed throughout the world as soloists and with ensembles and have recorded numerous albums of classical guitar music.
General admission is $15 and $5 for students. Reserved tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com.
