Sunday 22nd November 2015
David Keating - Guitar
Irish guitarist David Keating was recently awarded a First Class Honours degree in classical guitar performance at the Royal Northern College of Music where he studied with Craig Ogden. He previously studied in Dublin with John Feeley and under Jerry Creedon at Cork School of Music, where David now teaches classical guitar. He has won many important prizes in Ireland and attended master classes with some of the world’s greatest guitarists, including John Williams.
He has performed extensively across Ireland and the UK as a soloist and is also a keen chamber music performer with the Diversus Guitar Ensemble. David gratefully acknowledges support from Music Network Ireland.
Review by Terry Keeler
Sunday 22 November 2015
David Keating - Classical Guitar
Having won many prizes in Ireland and attended master classes with some of the world’s most eminent guitarists, including John Williams. He has given many recitals across Ireland and the UK - today he has chosen Templewood, with this being the second concert presented by Cromer Music Evenings within the current series.
Keating opened the programme playing three dances, Courante, Ballet and La Volta by 19th century composer Michael Praetorius, who wrote a collection of 300 dances. Next came three pieces by Cuban composer Leo Brouwer, The Harp of the Warrior, Fleeing of the Lovers through the Valley of the Echoes and Ballad of the Maiden in Love. Here Keating adapted the Cuban rhythms and idioms with consummate ease.
J S Bach’s Chaconne from the Violin Partita No 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004 was magnificent in performance lasting 13 minutes, displaying the sheer mastery Keating has of the guitar.
Before the interval, two pieces by John Williams - with whom Keating performed a master class - From a Bird and Hello Francis were well received by the enthusiastic audience.
The second half opened with three popular pieces in Latin style, a refreshing contrast to the listener - then two Celtic folk tunes, Spatter the Dew and Palm Sunday - certainly of an Irish flavour.
Three Venezuelan pieces, Los Caujaritos, Como Liora una Estrella and El Totumo de Guarenas.
The last item on the programme Verano Porteno and Primavera Portena by Astor Piazzolla confirmed that this young artist has a brilliant future ahead in the world of music - not only in his skilled playing - but in his stage presence in being so relaxed, and yes audience friendly. After prolonged applause came an encore - a beautiful calming work of which I did not hear the title.
Terry Keeler
Tel 01263 513273