RHEINISCHE POST qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqMonday, August 9th, 1999
Brad Richter from Arizona: a Virtuoso of the Classical Guitar
Enormous Sea of Melodies
LANGENFELD Such impressive virtuosity as was displayed on Sunday in St. Josef through the sound and playing of the guitar could hardly have been experienced by any of the audience members before. Brad Richter from Tucson, Arizona (USA), displayed such an impressive command of the classical guitar that one could not come out of one’s state of amazement.
He played perfectly the most complicated passages, and the pieces were interpreted full of dynamics and feeling. His two hands moved so independently of one another that an immense sea of melodies was created.
The two voices of the right and left hand flowed wildly over one another and completed each other harmonically. The fingers moved so fast one was barely able to follow them.
Especially popular with the audience were Brad Richter’s own compositions. Four of which were Four Native Tales. These folkloric pieces, whose corresponding legends were explained by the musician, tell Indian myths. The guitarist captured the audience through characteristic rhythmic elements and brought them into the world of the Native American. At one point in the pieces, while he played a melancholy melody with the left hand he rhythmically tapped the guitar body with the right hand, making the sound of a drum roll.
With a Tango, the Verano Porteno from Piazzola, he evoked the fiery Argentinean spirit. Written originally for piano and mandolin, Brad’s experience captured the character of both instruments. Innovative repertoire pieces complemented Brad Richter’s own compositions to make a rich and varied mixture. Naturally, one classic could not be left out: as an encore he played the well known, Leyenda from Albania’s Suite espanole.
Perfect without Music Lessons
At twelve years old Brad was already fascinated with the guitar and taught himself all the tricks of the stringed instrument. Without previously having had formal music lessons, he was awarded a full scholarship to a Chicago music conservatory and later went on to receive a scholarship to the renowned Royal College of Music in London. During his Masters studies he won more coveted music competitions including the Thomas Morherr prize. His numerous concert appearances have made the guitarist known internationally.
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RHEINISCHE POSTqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq Tuesday, January 9th, 1996
Brad Richter captivates the matinee audience with virtuoso guitar playing
by MAIKE RIMATZKI
Both presenter and audience were equally pleasantly surprised when American Brad Richter led them into the timbral world of classical guitar music. Close to 100 people sat and stood shoulder to shoulder in the sold out historical hall of the old Straelen town archives for the opening of the Sunday matinee concert series on January 7th.
"We didn’t expect such an overwhelming response", said the president of the Straelen cultural society, Günther Reufsteck, enthusiastically. When first approached with the opportunity of a concert, he was immediately taken with the idea, but could not foresee what response this genre of music would evoke. But after playing only a few notes in the concert, Richter had already won over the audience.
Successful mixture
The wide-ranging repertoire presented by this accomplished guitarist proved to be a successful mixture of his own compositions and well known pieces from the 20th century guitar literature. Besides some very melodious and enticing pieces like The Shepherd’s Dream and Sunburst he also presented the audience with some unique and highly inventive music in his Eight Preludes (written for his dissertation of the Royal College of Music, London). The Eight Preludes as well as many of Richter's other compositions are performed by several well known guitarists from around the world.
Fantastic sounds
Highly attentive and completely engrossed, the audience listened to the fantastic sounds which Richter elicited from his guitar. One thing is certain for Mr Reufsteck-- that this wouldn’t be Richter’s last performance in Straelen. "We will make great efforts to get Richter to play another concert in Straelen, but next time we’ll be preparing it on a much larger scale."
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