A GUITARIST’S deeply personal musical journey is set to take centre stage in Alton.
Richard Durrant will host Number 26 bus to Paraguay at Alton Village Hall, in Hurstons Lane, from 8pm on Friday as part of the Live and Local programme of events.
Durrant, who is described as an exceptional guitarist and laid back performer, has combined his own musical skills with the talent of several artists, who he has commissioned to make short appealing animated films to accompany the music he plays.
This new highly autographical show also features film footage from his tours to Paraguay and Argentina.
The background to the show dates back to 1970 when at the age of eight, a young Durrant took the number 26 bus to his guitar lessons in Brighton.
Four years and a lot of practice later, he was performing guitar recitals at Paraguay’s bicentenary celebrations, touring the country as an honoured guest.
Featuring the life and music of Paraguay’s most famous composer Augustin Barrios, one of Durrant’s most abiding influences, the show also includes world music that has inspired the musician and thrilled audiences from Django Reinhardt, Claude Debussy and Los Paraguayos.
It will also include humorous tales of Durrant’s musical adventures in Latin America.
Durrant will share with his audience the inspiration he found in music of Barrios and demonstrate just how far one man can expand the expressive range of the guitar, which is not what the audience might expect from a classical guitar recital.
The Sussex-based musician first visited Paraguay in May 2011 and during his successful concert tour he launched the first album, The Number 26 Bus to Paraguay, in a South American trilogy.
This album was the first collection of Barrios’ guitar works to be launched in Paraguay by a foreign artist.
Awards and accolades followed the album release and Durrant returned to Paraguay a year later to launch the second album, Hijo de Hombre, in the series.
He also gave the Paraguayan premiere of the Villa-Lobos guitar concerto under the baton of maestro Luis Szaran.
Classic FM Magazine described Durrant as having “extraordinary virtuosity”, saying his is “a simply unmissable treat”.
Gramophone Magazine said: “One is left with the impression of a man who loves music and life in equal measures.”
More information of Richard Durrant is available on Facebook or at www.richard-durrant.com
Tickets cost £8.50 or £6 for people in full time education and are available from Alton Post Office or by phoning 01538 703222 or 01538 703104.
A licensed bar will be available on the night and all of the proceeds will go to Alton Village Hall.
