| One of America's greatest living composers, David Del Tredici, has just completed a 4-movement, 30-minute solo piece on commission for David Leisner. David raised the funds privately. He first asked Del Tredici for a 10-minute work, which then expanded quickly to a half-hour! The piece, with title yet to be determined, contains two fugues (!) and will be premiered on the Guitar Plus series at Symphony Space in New York on April 29. Also featured on the program is harpist Yolanda Kondonassis. For more details, please see the Guitar Plus page. _________________________________________________________________________ Angelo Gilardino's intelligent, perceptive review of David Leisner's new Matiegka CD appeared in the November issue of the Italian music magazine, Suonare. Gilardino reported: "What sets David Leisner apart is the refinement of his phrasing, which he imbues with clear, convincing and original intentions...His playing is authoritative, without trying to appear so. And he succeeds marvelously, taking us through this entire recording without a single dull moment." For the full review, click here. (Scroll down to "Complete reviews") ____________________________________________________________________ Merion Music/Theodore Presser Co. has just agreed to publish ALL of David Leisner's currently unpublished compositions. This includes an orchestra piece, many vocal and chamber works and, of course, a number of works that include the guitar. They will be released a few at a time. Both Presser Co. and Leisner are proud to deepen their association for the future. Stay tuned for further details. ______________________________________________________________________ David's recent appearance at the Lidköping Music Festival in Sweden garnered a rave review from the local critic, Bo Borg. Here are a couple of excerpts: "The evening began with last year's favorite, American guitar ace David Leisner. He played the Bach Chaconne in a way that merged emotion and intellect into an alloy that can best be described as high art. Perhaps the greatest reward of his concert on Monday evening was when he introduced the music of the Czech (and incomprehensibly unknown) composer Wenzeslaus Matiegka (1773-1830). Rarely does one hear more rhythmically varied and beautiful music...Leisner showed once again [in the Villa-Lobos Etudes] that he is a musician that can make the impossible sound completely natural and 'close'. This can only be achieved by the greats." For the full review, click here. (Scroll down to "Complete reviews") _____________________________________________________________________ David's latest CD, Matiegka, the Beethoven of the Guitar, has received its first review. American Record Guide reports: "You will not be disappointed in this music or this performance...Leisner plays with the excellence we've come to expect. He is an assertive, sensitive, inventive, creative musician. He's discovered some truly substantial music in Matiegka, and he is delighted to share his enthusiasm." Leisner believes Wenzeslaus Matiegka (1773-1830 ) to be one of the most important guitar composers, if not the most important, of the 19th century. For more information on the CD, including where to buy it, click here. _________________________________________________________________________ The latest review of Classics and Discoveries, David Leisner's new concert DVD, appeared in Guitar Review. Critic Jim Tosone wrote: "My first thought on viewing Classics & Discoveries was that I would watch it once or twice more. I'm already up to five viewings, for there is something magical about watching a master guitarist performing these works." For more information on this DVD, click here. iTunes now has all of David's solo CDs on the Azica label, as well as his Naxos recording of the Hovhaness Concerto. Click here for more info. _________________________________________________________________________ David's recent article for Guitar Review, "Curing Focal Dystonia, or How to Play the Guitar with Large Muscles", is now up on this website. It is the only published work so far that contains up-to-date details on David's groundbreaking ideas about engaging the large muscles for playing the guitar, as well as other instruments. To read the article, click here. _________________________________________________________________________ David's most recent performances of the Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez were with Orchestra Iowa in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. The review in the Cedar Rapids Gazette was a rave: Classical guitarist shines in orchestra concert "David Leisner on Saturday night showed why he is considered one of the finest classical guitarists in the world. Leisner joined Maestro Timothy Hankewich and the Cedar Rapids Symphony/ Orchestra Iowa in a memorable performance of Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. Displaying a superb command of his instrument, Leisner played with a vibrancy and flair that was a perfect complement to the symphony. His musical dialogue with the violins and cellos was crisp and clean. The audience in Sinclair Auditorium responded with generous applause, showing their appreciation for a true musical artist." ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Mucony.com is a new website where you can download half-hour videos of private lessons and keep them for a month, for only $5 each. David has four lessons on the site so far. One is about getting rid of physical tensions, called Playing with Ease, there is one long lesson split into two videos on Fernando Sor's Introduction and Variations on a Theme by Mozart, op. 9, and a lesson on the Villa-Lobos Prelude No. 1. To see a sample video and to log in, please click here. ________________________________________________________________________ David Leisner has now joined MySpace Music. A couple of CD clips are there. Check it out. Website content © David Leisner 2010. All rights reserved. |
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david's latest cd!
Del Tredici and Leisner at work