Guitar Whisperer evolves

His latest date is at the Madhurst Festival, St Mary Magdalene & St Denys Parish Church, Midhurst on Thursday, August 25 at 7.30pm (tickets 01730 817322/01730 813362).

Show spokesman Jim Soars said: “The show takes a prismatic look at the guitar in a piece of beautifully-presented musical theatre. Each performance takes the classical instrument as its starting point, but then, from the relative safety of familiar, virtuoso repertoire, the audience is taken on a journey into an astounding, sensory world.

“The growing army of Richard Durrant fans come from both inside and far outside the classical world, the man’s ever-changing and developing repertoire ensures this wide appeal will continue.

“This Guitar Whisperer show includes a beautiful version of Debussy’s Arabesque No.1 accompanied by an impressionistic film made with oil paints and sand, Manuel de Falla’s La Vide Breve with animated scenes from the paintings of Goya & Durrant’s renowned versions of music by the great Paraguayan Agustin Barrios Mangore from his latest album. There are totally acoustic moments as well– shockingly direct and affecting after the intensity of the projections and amplification.

“At one point Richard performs on a copy of a 19th century Lacotte guitar. Unamplified and sitting on the very edge of the stage, he duets with his onscreen self playing the earliest surviving guitar by CF Martin I. This is an iconic piece of musical history brought to life in the most skilful and ingenious way.”

Jim added: “As with every Durrant event, the production values are sky high and every detail is carefully prepared with stills and moving images by a collection of talented British artists including Malcolm Buchanan-Dick, Miranda Vincent, Mark Charlton and Kate Genevieve.

“Stage and lighting design is by Bill Hammond (currently also stage manager for Rambert Dance Company, but also former UK technical director for the Kirov and Bolshoi Ballet).”