Mihály Zeke (Musical Direction/Hungary/D)

Oxalis Quartet (Stefan Besan 1st Violin, Friederike Kampick 2nd Violin, Tim Düllberg Viola, Lucija Rupert Cello)

Alvaro Pierri (Guitar/Uruguay)

with music by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Heitor Villa-Lobos

Koblenz Guitar Festival & Academy for the first time at Sayner Hütte

The Koblenz Guitar Festival & Academy is not changing strings this year, but pages – specifically those of the Rhine: The concerts of the 33rd edition of the renowned music festival will take place for the first time this year at Sayner Hütte, which according to festival director Georg Schmitz offers concert venues predestined for this music: “The Krupp Halle is particularly acoustically suitable for the solo recitals, while the Gießhalle is ideal for the orchestral concerts.” Until now, they were held in the Rhein-Mosel-Halle; the master classes previously held at the Koblenz Castle are now moving to the State Music Academy at Engers Castle.
As an “absolute fan of Sayner Hütte,” Schmitz, who teaches as a professor at the University of Music in Mainz, had long had an eye on the Bendorf industrial monument with its fascinating architecture and found an open door with managing director Dr. Björn Rodday. He emphasizes: “Sayner Hütte unites history and present and offers an ideal setting for the Koblenz Guitar Festival as a vibrant resonance space for artistic questions. In the midst of the historical industrial backdrop, music can open new perspectives, promote dialogue between tradition and innovation, and intensify the cultural experience.” Additionally, the nearby State Music Academy in Engers offers excellent opportunities for lessons as well as catering and accommodation for participants and instructors, Schmitz is pleased: “One is now very close to the pulse.”
And that pulse is likely to beat stronger among friends of guitar music between June 1 and 9, as everything that holds rank and name in the international scene will gather at Sayner Hütte. Artists from Germany and numerous European countries as well as overseas will perform. They will appear solo and in various chamber music formations. The festival will also welcome the orchestra and choir of the University of Music Mainz, the Oxalis Quartet, the Joscho Stephan Trio, the Koblenz Guitar Festival Chamber Orchestra, and the French flutist Patrick Gallois.
The program includes not only the concert offerings but also exciting seminars, workshops, and master classes as well as the annual competition at Engers Castle, conversation concerts, and the presentation of the festival award for lifetime achievement to guitarist David Russel. During the festival, instrument makers will present their portfolio of plucked instruments and invite attendees to try them out. Additional attractions include sound art installations by students of the Sound Art-Composition department of the University of Music Mainz throughout the entire monument area of Sayner Hütte as well as daily concerts in the chapel of the Heinrich House in Engers. The move of the series and the new venues have sparked great enthusiasm worldwide: “There are already registrations from Japan and Australia.”
The audience can already purchase tickets for all events at www.koblenzguitarfestival.de and find detailed information about the individual concert programs. All the performing artists are also presented there.