‘Alchemy’ Celebrates The Beauty Of Two Guitars

Guitarists Andrew Blanch and Ariel Nurhadi are two of the hottest young performers in Sydney’s classical guitar scene. Today their debut album Alchemy is released on and digital on the ABC Classic label

Alchemy, takes us on a journey through the ages and around the world, with classics by Debussy, Rameau, Piazzolla, Albéniz, Falla and Granados. The album also features Three Duets by the acclaimed late Australian guitarist and composer Phillip Houghton, which includes  Alchemy, the first work that Andrew and Ariel performed together, and after which this album is named. There are arrangements by Emilio Pujol and Miguel Llobet and the two greats of 20th century guitar music, Julian Bream and John Williams.

Andrew Blanch stands out in the emerging new generation of classical artists. Formidably talented and passionate, Andrew has carved an acclaimed career, independently releasing his album Spanish Guitar Music in 2015. Andrew has won numerous prizes in  competitions including first prize in the Adelaide International Guitar Competition (2019) and the Melbourne International Guitar Competition (2015). His collaborations are extensive and includes new commissions for the guitar from celebrated Australian composers Daniel Rojas, Felicity Wilcox, Jessica Wells and Robert Davidson. Andrew graduated with First Class Honours from the Australian National University in 2013 where he studied with Timothy Kain and Minh Le Hoang. He plays a 2014 Greg Smallman and Sons guitar.

Also based in Sydney, Ariel Nurhadi has toured extensively through Australia and New Zealand and has performed with some of Australia’s leading musicians and singers. His love of collaborative projects continues with The José Carbó Trio, his guitar duo with Andrew Blanch and a forthcoming project called The Great Acceleration with Ensemble Offspring and Topology.

Ariel graduated with first-class honours from the ANU, under the tutelage of Timothy Kain. During his studies, he developed a keen interest in historical performance practice, with a focus on the interpretive style of Andrés Segovia.

The tracks: ASTOR PIAZZOLLA Tango Suite: 1 I. Deciso 2 II. Andante 3 III. Allegro

CLAUDE DEBUSSY 4 Clair de Lune from Suite bergamasque / (arr. Ariel Nurhadi & Andrew Blanch) / 5 Cakewalk from Children’s Corner Suite (arr. Julian Bream & John Williams)

MANUEL DE FALLA  6 Danza from La vida breve (arr. Emilio Pujol)

ISAAC ALBÉNIZ 7 Evocación from Iberia (arr. Miguel Llobet)

JEAN-PHILIPPE RAMEAU Pièces de Clavecin (1724) (arr. Sergio & Eduardo Abreu) 8 Le Rappel des Oiseaux/9 Musette en Rondeau/10 Rigaudons 1 & 2/11 Allemande/12 Les Cyclopes

ENRIQUE GRANADOS 13 Intermezzo from Goyescas (arr. Emilio Pujol)

RADAMÉS GNATTALI 14 Chiquinha Gonzaga (Corta Jaca)  from Suite Retratos

PHILLIP HOUGHTON Three Duets 15 I. The Mantis and the Moon /16 II. Lament/ 17 III. Alchemy

PETER MADLEM 18 Monte Carlo
Andrew Blanch & Ariel Nurhadi guitar

1CD + Digital | Available 18 September 2020 | ABC 481 9101