Adelaide International Guitar Festival Announces Three New Classical Shows , Finalists for Classical Guitar Competition

Artistic Director Slava Grigoryan today announced three diverse and exciting new shows for this year's Adelaide International Guitar Festival (AIGF) from July 17-20, 2014, presented by Adelaide Festival Centre.

From young classical guitarists just making their mark, through to acclaimed masters of the genre, all generations of artists are covered in these three spectacular performances.

Outstanding local classical guitarist Andrey Lebedev will take to the stage in an amazing double bill with the talented Sydney Guitar Trio.

Born in Moscow and raised in Adelaide, Lebedev was the winner of the Festival's 2012 Adelaide International Classical Guitar Competition and returns home for this very special recital performance. Now studying in London at the Royal Academy of Music on the Julian Bream Trust scholarship, this young man is swiftly gaining an international reputation as one of the rising stars of classical guitar.

The Sydney Guitar Trio, featuring Raffaele Agostino, Janet Agostino and Richard Charlton, joins forces with actor and musician, Rory O'Donoghue to present a program of storytelling and music in the Dunstan Playhouse on Friday, 18 July. The performance will cover everything from Alice in Wonderland to Dante's Inferno with a dash of Banjo Paterson and Spike Milligan. This unique performance blends the power of the spoken word with music in a refreshing and entertaining way.

An extraordinary Festival premiere sees one of France's favourite sons of the classical guitar Judicaël Perroy on a standout double bill with acclaimed composer and performer Máximo Pujol in the Dunstan Playhouse on Thursday 17 July.

The evening begins with Perroy, who is known for his mastery of instrumental colour and the compelling intensity of his performance. He has won multiple international awards and is in steady demand as a recitalist and a teacher. This concert marks his Australian debut.

Completing the double bill, Máximo Pujol brings his tango trio direct from Buenos Aires to Australia for the first time. Having honed his skills playing milongas and tangos in the clubs of his home town, his vibrant and melodically rich music is founded on these styles, and makes full use of the expressive powers of the guitar in dialogue with stellar bandoneon player Eleonora Ferreyra and double bass player Daniel Falasca.

In what promises to be a major gala event of the Festival, one of our finest musical exports the Australian String Quartet (ASQ) will be joined on the Festival Theatre stage by three very special guests on Saturday 19 July.

Firstly, acclaimed Spanish guitarist Pepe Romero will accompany the ASQ, then AIGF Artistic Director Slava Grigoryan will join the quartet on stage in his only performance of the Festival, and finally Argentina's contemporary tango virtuosos, the Máximo Pujol Trio, will accompany the ASQ to complete this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Magnificent works for guitar and strings will feature, including Boccherini's beloved Quintetto No. 4 Fandango, Australian Shaun Rigney'sThe Garden of Forking Paths, inspired by Argentine poet Jorge Luis Borges, and Pujol's own enchantingly romantic suite for strings and tango trio, Luminosa de Buenos Aires.

This exclusive gala event will open with a dynamic performance by Brisbane's acclaimed Aurora Guitar Ensemble, directed by Paul Svoboda.

Heading up his third Festival, Artistic Director Slava Grigoryan said today's classical announcement cements the festival as one of the most highly regarded on the international circuit.

"We are thrilled to have classical artists of this calibre playing at the Adelaide International Guitar Festival for 2014."

"We're celebrating all generations of guitar players in this amazing lineup. From young bloods like Andrey Lebedev and the Aurora Guitar Ensemble, to the more established Judicaël Perroy and of course the acclaimed masters such as Pepe Romero and Máximo Pujol."

"Even though the formula may seem similar, the colour of each Festival changes vastly as audiences get to hear a wider and more varied mix of new and established artists."

Adelaide Festival Centre CEO Douglas Gautier said the Adelaide International Guitar Festival remained a cornerstone of the Centre's major festival offerings for the year ahead.

"Consistently presenting an exceptional program of local and International Artists, Adelaide International Guitar Festival continues to gain international recognition and acclaim."

"One of four major festivals presented by Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide International Guitar Festival offers a unique opportunity to shine the international arts and culture spotlight on South Australia".

"Slava Grigoryan has curated a first class selection of guitarists from around the world, covering a range of genres, and we look forward to announcing the rest of his lineup in April."

Finalists in the Festival's International Classic Guitar Competition were also announced today, representing all corners of the globe.

The international contenders are Anton Baranov from the Russian Federation, Ekachai Jearakul from Thailand, BrenDan Evans from the USA and Mihailescu Bogdan from Romania.

Back in Australia, the ACT was well represented with five locals making the grade: Ariel Nurhadi, Bin Le Thanh, Callum Henshaw, Courtney Hilton and Stephanie Jones. There were two finalists from NSW, Alexander Clark and Andrew Blanch; two from Queensland, Benjamin Ellerby and Joseph Fallon; two from Victoria, Daniel Nistico and Ziggy Johnston, and one from WA, Jameson Feakes.

The full line-up of programs for this year's Adelaide International Guitar Festival will be announced in April, including Meet the Maker, Masterclasses, Workshops and more.

Tickets can be purchased at BASS 131 246 or online at bass.net.au. For further information visit www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au.