Internationally-acclaimed Chinese pipa virtuoso Liu
Fang
and the renowned Irish classical guitarist Michael
O'Toole
unite in a duo tour of pipa & guitar in 8 venues around Ireland.
It is a unique and exciting collaboration that brings together fantastic
repertoire from classical and traditional music to contemporary
works. This tour is aided by the Music Network Ireland Touring Award
and will mark the launch of their new album entitled “Changes”,
which was recorded earlier this year in Montreal, Canada.
The
pipa (Chinese four-stringed Lute) and guitar have evolved from a common
ancestor over many centuries into very different instruments and following
continuous adaptations and modifications, are both eminently suitable
for modern ensemble playing. The beautiful, crystalline sound of the
pipa is elegantly complemented by the warm, rich tone of the guitar.
The combination of these two instruments creates a new flamboyant
sound which, while steeped in their respective histories, is also
refreshingly modern and surprisingly versatile. From the beautiful
subtle melodies of 'Sai Shang Qu' to the daring adaption of Philip
Glass' masterpiece 'Company' to the raucous rendition of Bartok's
Romanian Dances, Liu Fang and Michael O'Toole display stunning virtuosity
and endless adaptability. The combination of pipa and guitar gives
an incredibly fresh perspective to existing masterpieces by a wide
range of composers from Vivaldi to Piazzolla. In addition to this,
the recording contains beautifully sensitive performances of new works
by Ian Wilson and Toshiuki Haraoki, marking the duo's commitment to
new music. The varied nature of the repertoire on the cd and tour
shows how successful this combination can be in the hands of two such
talented performers.
New
CD release 2008 & audio demo
video
demo: concert live recording
Liu
Fang and Michael O'Toole set for nationwide tour, Hot
Press, 2008.08.28