Ohrid, 16 July 2024 (MIA) – German classical guitarist Gerhart Reichenbach will be performing on the stage of St. Sophia Church within Ohrid Summer Festival on Tuesday evening.

During already 40 years of performing recitals (debut recital in Düsseldorf in 1980, international debut at the Volos Guitar Festival Greece 1990) he played solo recitals and concerts with orchestra at many of the biggest international guitar festivals and in philharmonic concert halls. He was the first German guitarist who had the honour to perform a recital at the International House of Music in Moscow, one of the biggest concert houses in Europe. In 2003, he was invited to his concert debut to the Berlin Philharmonic.

His audiences, musical experts and the critical acclaim are enthusiastic about his interpretations of classical guitar repertoire from many different musical styles, and his performances are highlights of a masterly guitar playing which combines virtuosity and brilliance, sensitivity and a special poetic sense for sound with an impressive stage presence.

His active concert repertoire (about 35 different solo programmes, chamber music and a number of concertos with orchestra) consists of music from 5 centuries and from all classical styles.

Apart from discovering unknown classical guitar pieces he is an avid supporter of contemporary guitar music performing world premieres and first performances of music of our time (such as Leo Brouwer, Hans-Werner Henze, Arvo Pärt, Boris Assafiev, Ulrich Leyendecker, Manfred Trojan, Lutz-Werner Hesse, Rossen Balkanski, Atanas Ourkouzounov). A number of composers dedicated works to Gerhard Reichenbach, who is also one of the very few guitarists who perform large cyclical works (for example Rossen Balkanski, Sonata Nr.2 with a duration of 43 min or Buck Wolters, 12 concert studies op.47 with a duration of 70 minutes).

Teaching and sharing his musical experience is essential for Gerhard. At the age of 29 years, he became professor at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Weimar (Germany.) In the year 2000 he moved to Thessaloniki (Greece) where he built up the new classical guitar department of the State Conservatory Thessaloniki. Since 2009 until now he is holding a full professor position at the Hochschule für Music und Tanz Köln (University of Music Cologne). Many of his former students are prizewinners at international competitions, concert performers, professors or successful teachers worldwide.

Tonight’s concert program features pieces by Mertz, Giuliani, Bach, Albéniz, Moreno-Torroba, and Rodrigo.

Photo: Ohrid Summer Festival