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International Guitar Festival Fribourg
September 23. - October 2, 2011 |
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Pedro Soler
Spain
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Due to the fact that flamenco is not a written music, Pedro Soler had to learn his trade on the job during twelve years, working as second guitarist for various companies. He was notably the pupil of Pepe de Badajos, and was also influenced by the style of Perico del Lunar Padre. He has supported many dancers, amongst which Carmen Arnaya and La Chunga; however, he owes his knowledge of the of the style of the golden age of flamenco to «La Joselito». He became her regular guitarist, also playing with such famous singers as Juan Varea and the great Pepe de la Matrona, or more recently Michel Vargas and Enrique Morente.
Pedro Soler rapidly distinguished himself with the purity of his style and his astonishing sound. He embarked on a solo career and performed all over Europe, America, Africa, the Soviet Union and Japan. He has played together with Atahualpa Yupanqui and Oscar Caceres in such prestigious concert halls as the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées or the Olympia.
Pedro Soler has essentially recorded for RCA Victor, Decca, Le Chant du Monde and CBS. Winner of the Grand Prix du disque de l'Académie Charles-Cros, he was also awared the Deutscher Schallplattenpreis.
Following his flamenca guitar performance at the Jean-Louis Barrault theater, Jean-Louis Barrault said of him: «Amongst all the guitars in the world that sing and invite to dance, Pedro Soler's is one of the purest.». For his part, Nobel prize-winner Miguel Angel Asturias wrote: «Pedro Soler's fingers are the guitar's five senses; in his hands, she sees, listens, sings, breathes and speaks.»
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Ravi Prasad
India
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Ravi is originally from the province of Kerala, in southern India. He has studied classical Indian music and singing with the greatest masters, and is a graduate of the Central Carnatic College in Madras. He is equally well acquainted with the sacred and folkloric music of his native land, since he has been fully immersed in the musical, theatrical and choreographic culture of his country, and has performed with the most renowned Indian musicians.
After settling in France in 1985, he made himself a name with his wonderful recitals of the sacred songs of southern India, while continuing to perform together with other Indian musicians. At the same time, however, thanks to his extraordinary assimilation skills and his insatiable curiosity, he worked to absorb every possible European musical style: jazz, electronic music, experimental music, ethnic music. He plays together with jazz and rock groups, as well as with singers and musicians from extremely varied musical backgrounds: Benat Achiary, Bernard Lubat, André Minvielle, Dominique Regef... He also takes part in numerous theatre and dance projects, which he not only produces, but also conceives.
Since several years, Ravi Prasad's workshops in France, in Spain, and in other European countries have become a privileged platform for intercultural exchange and discussions on the foundations of singing, musical interpretation and the oral transmission of knowledge.
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