The guys dressed up in blazers and the women put on their nice dresses. Then they waited patiently as the stage remained silent with nothing but a chair and a footstool on it. The guitarist stepped out onto stage from the side door and everyone applauded.
A classy night out on the town might not be something you’d go to a college campus looking for, but Pasadena City College has quite a bit to offer when it comes to evenings out.
The Solo Classical Guitar performance this past Saturday evening at the Westerbeck Recital Hall showed all who attended a good time befitting of a cool fall evening.
The performances by the three solo guitarists, Kevin Guerrero, Daniel Salazar and Joseph Lopez, were conducted in a very professional manner. The space was dark and the audience was sprinkled about in private groups around the auditorium, giving way to an intimate and relaxing evening.
The guitarists each performed with different styles. It was like watching a lineup of musical guests ranging from Antonio Banderas to Blink-182 playing acoustic sets. If there were any fumbles of the fingers, the audience could barely notice as the performers held themselves with composure and played with passion.
The pieces hailed from different countries and the tone of each showcased that. From Russian mazurkas to Cuban dance numbers, the music was elaborate and contrasting.
Allegro tempos and light fingers made it easy to get lost in a trance during the faster parts of the music. At certain points, it would have been nice if the notes would have been held a bit longer in the adagio sections of the songs but the upbeat portions were executed well, with style and not hurried.
All three guitarists may only be junior college students, but their skill and passion is evident. With time, it will be nice to see these classical musicians hold sway over larger audiences. The small tango number that accompanied the first guitarist after his set was unexpected and a refreshing quality that set the night apart from usual classical music recital experiences.
All of the music brought about light and dreamy notions and was uplifting. The finishing number left the air with a melancholy tone that set the stage for walking out into the crisp evening breeze, with a glass of wine not out of the question to finish a classy time on the town.
- The magic of philanthropy around Christmas - December 7, 2015
- How to tame a Want Monster - November 4, 2015
- Books, Straight outta Riverside - October 7, 2015
