Stephen Marchionda


Online Concert from the Frick Collection NYC
	March 2008 With the tenor Rufus Müller; a program of Dowland, Purcell, Britten and Schubert. For over sixty years, the series Concerts from The Frick Collection has delighted WNYC listeners. Many of the century's greatest artists have performed in the 175-seat music room at the Frick Collection, the former Upper East Side residence of industrialist Henry Clay Frick. www.wnyc.org/shows/frick/episodes/2008/03/15

CD Re-Release -
	Stephen's recording of the "Complete Variations and 24 Preludes by Manuel Maria Ponce" on ASV / Sanctuary was re-released 3 September 2007 (with new cover art). "With this recording Stephen Marchionda mantains his reputation as one of the best masters of the guitar." DeutschlandRadio Magazine, Berlin www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WYYS9I

Feature Interview for Classical Guitar Magazine
	July 2007 Stephen Marchionda on Nicholas Maw and Domenico Scarlatti By Oliver McGhie. This is my second meeting with Stephen. The first time it was in a coffee house after his concert at the Wigmore Hall, this time in a small pub in Belgravia near to Victoria station down one of those small alleys into cobbled court yard, where it looks like you’ve stepped a hundred years back into Dickensian/Edwardian London...‘The quality of learning with other musicians and what you can teach each other is amazing. When you can get up on stage with musicians of whatever calibre and share, that is amazing. The actual art of performing is in the moment when you are sharing with the audience – it’s a wonderful experience, and the same feeling comes with playing with other musicians'...Among the Mendelssohnesque, interludes surrounded by a sea of romantic gestures Marchionda showed his mastery of the guitar with impressive playing...Overall, Marchionda provided an assertive concert performance showing how he has become a star on the international classical guitar stage... Full article to be added on this website soon. www.classicalguitarmagazine.com/

Scarlatti Concert Review - BBC Music, Oxford, UK
	"The management of the Jacqueline Du Pre Building are clearly not afraid of taking risks, and their high risk strategy paid off handsomely when a full house witnessed a terrific performance by Stephen Marchionda, a virtuoso classical guitarist. This evening’s performance was inspired by the 250th anniversary of the death of the great musical innovator Dominico Scarlatti (1685-1737), whose sonatas Stephen has transposed to the guitar with impressive results - stately and sparse, with an even tempo of extraordinary complexity. Its charm was the unconventional pattern of notes, more akin to the piano than the guitar. Risks are worth taking when you can rely on such virtuoso talent as Stephen Marchionda, so let’s hope he is back to visit us in Oxford soon."

Impressions of Scarlatti
	January 2007 2007 marks 250 years since Scarlatti's death. In celebration of the great Italian composer, Stephen has begun adding in concerts his new virtuosic transcriptions of Domenico Scarlatti's Sonatas for Keyboard. Spending the later part of his life in Spain working for the court, Scarlatti was fascinated with the traditional music of the Iberian peninsula. An ambiance of Flamenco and Moorish music are hidden within the chromatic lines and cross rhythms. As is the imitation of the guitar with its voicing of fourths (the tuning of that instrument) and the sharp sounds of seconds and sevenths. Each sonata is concise and well-developed, full of individuality and wit, musical and technical originality. In turn humoristic, profound and virtuosic. These compositional devices add to the distinctive colour and dissonance. Scarlatti leaves us his own description of these sonatas in a foreword; "Do not expect any profound learning, but rather an ingenious jesting with art. Therefore show yourself more human than critical and then your pleasure will increase. Live happily."

Recent appearance at the Wigmore Hall, London - Nicholas Maw at 70
	Reviews..."Stephen Marchionda was impeccably musical and wonderfully deft with Maw's intricate writing in the Six Interiors and again later in the solo 'Music of Memory'." (Financial Times, UK) - ** "Stephen Marchionda gave the performance of the evening in 'Music of Memory'. Beautifully varied in texture, a sense of transformation, putting a musical idea before your ears, taking it through various adventures and, when it returns, making you hear it anew in the light of experience." (The Independent) - *** "Music stamped as much with romantic ardour as intellectual rigour was sensitively dispatched by Stephen Marchionda." (The Times, First Night Reviews)

New CD - Songs For Tenor and Guitar
	In a special collaboration with British tenor Philip Langridge Mr. Marchionda has recently finished a recording (for Chandos) with performances of music by Benjamin Britten, Nicholas Maw and John Dowland. This is the premiere recording of both the masterpiece "Music of Memory" for solo guitar and the "Six Interiors for Tenor and Guitar" by Nicholas Maw. With Benjamin Britten's "Nocturnal after John Dowland Op.70" (solo guitar) and "Songs from the Chinese". www.chandos.net/

BBC Music Magazine Editors Choice - 5 Stars
	"A Perfect Partnership. This is rather special: one of the finest British tenors plus a guitarist who can obtain such a range of colour and expression from his instrument that 74 minutes doesn't seem a second too long...The performances are outstanding. Langridge, phrases even the simplest two-note figures with breathtaking elegance and intensity...Marchionda is a near-ideal partner, and he's a compelling soloist...Superb recording."

Recent Concert Review - The Washington Post
	"...Nicholas Maw's tour de force for solo guitar, "Music of Memory." Devised as variations woven around a theme by Mendelssohn, the piece was an excellent vehicle to show off guitarist Stephen Marchionda's versatile talents, full of artistry and confidence. His brilliant technique made for a splendid and engrossing performance of this rewarding music."

New realizations of Henry Purcell's incidental theatre music
	Stephen Marchionda has recently realized Purcell's (1659-1695) incidental music to Thomas D'Urfey's play "A Fool's Preferment",(written 1688). The work for tenor and guitar was premiered at the Cheltenham Festival to great response.

'Today Too' New composition for Tenor, Flute and Guitar by Sir Harrison Birtwistle
	Famed British composer Sir Harrison Birtwistle has composed for the Langridge - Marchionda Duo, in collaboration with flutist Sebastian Bell. The new work was premiered at the Cheltenham Festival, England.

BBC Radio 3 Live Performance
	Stephen Marchionda gave a live concert performance for the UK's BBC Radio 3 on July 14th in a special collaboration with Philip Langridge, Sebastian Bell and Sir Harrison Birtwistle. Featured were Birtwistle's "Today Too" based on Japanese traditional haiku and Nicholas Maw's "Tango from Sophie's Choice".

New Transcription - Nicholas Maw's Tango from 'Sophie's Choice'
	Stephen Marchionda has transcribed the fabulous Tango from Nicholas Maw's new opera 'Sophie's Choice'. The premiere of 'Sophie's Choice' was a highlight of the Royal Covent Garden's season last year. The 'Tango' proved so popular that it was featured in a concert given by the Orchestra of the Royal Covent Garden Opera with Sir Simon Rattle conducting. The transcription was done in close collaboration with the composer.