Join two of the UK’s finest guitarists as they take you on an unforgettable journey through the musical landscape of Spain. In this unique collaboration, classical guitarist Michael Christian Durrant and flamenco guitarist Samuel Moore explore the intriguing connections and subtle differences that both bring together and set apart the musical worlds of classical and flamenco guitar. We are also really excited to welcome soprano Nia Coleman and pianist Laura Serra as their gorgeous and fiery repertoire will add plenty of Spanish passion to the evening!
Discover one of London’s best kept secrets - DEBUT at Shoreditch Treehouse - the acclaimed classical music experience held in a magical bohemian loft space in Central London. This intimate and fun night is like no concert you’ve experienced before, DEBUT at Shoreditch Treehouse offers awe-inspiring performances, time to chat to your favourite musicians and the chance to feel at home in the heart of the city.
Launched in 2017, DEBUT at Shoreditch Treehouse has hosted over 50 sold out concerts showcasing over 150 musicians, including up and coming talent as well as fully fledged stars. Split into three parts of 30 minutes the night features extraordinary musicians (different every month) sharing their favourite pieces from the world of classical music, opera and musical theatre as well as stories from their careers. With over four hundred 5* reviews from around the world already, this is an experience not to be missed!
This concert forms part of Michael & Samuel's UK Album Launch Tour for their new studio album Guitar, the Heart of Spain (Guitarra, el Corazon de España) recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London. To learn more, visit: www.guitartheheartofspain.com
Musicians
Michael Christian Durrant classical guitar
Samuel Moore flamenco guitar
Laura Serra piano
Nia Coleman soprano
Sam Peña resident piano improviser
Jon Tester DEBUT host
Programme
Part I (25 mins)
Ross introduction (Shoreditch Treehouse)
Danza del Molinero from El Sombrero de Tres Picos by Manuel de Falla - Michael & Samuel 4’
Jonty introduction (DEBUT)
Asturias (Leyenda), No. 5 from Suite Española, Op. 47 by Isaac Albéniz - Michael 6’
Alegrías de Sabicas by Agustín Castellón Campos - Samuel 6’
Malagueña y Verdiales - Traditional Flamenco - Michael & Samuel 5’
Les Filles de Cadix (The Maids of Cadíz) - Léo Delibes - Nia & Laura 3’
Part II (35 mins)
Fantasía Bética by Manuel de Falla - Laura 13’
Vocalise – Étude (en forme de habanera) by Maurice Ravel - Nia & Laura 4’
Zorongo Gitano – Traditional Flamenco – Michael & Samuel 4’
Soleá - Traditional Flamenco - Samuel 5’
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5; Aria (Cantilena) by Heitor Villa-Lobos - Nia & Laura 6’
La Fiesta (Sevillanas) - Traditional Flamenco by Michael & Samuel 5’
Part III (27 mins)
El Paño Moruno from Siete Canciones Populares Española by Manuel de Falla - Nia & Laura 2’20’
Asturiana, No. 3 from Siete Canciones Populares Española by Manuel de Falla - Michael, Samuel & Nia 6’
Capricho Arabé (Serenata) by Francisco Tárrega - Michael 5’
Aranjuez, ma pensée (theme from Concierto de Aranjuez) by Joaquín Rodrigo - Michael & Nia 7’
Boceto Andaluz (Andalucían Sketch) by Bartolomé Calatayud - Michael & Samuel 6’
Biographies
Michael Christian Durrant
classical guitar
Acknowledged as “A forerunner in the new generation of classical guitarists” (BBC Radio 3), Michael Christian Durrant continues to establish himself as one of England’s finest and most creative young musicians. He enjoys a busy performance schedule, with concerts ranging from intimate solo recitals to large-scale concerto performances.
Michael performs regularly across the UK, and recent sell-out concerts for King’s Lynn Music Society, Somerton Arts Festival, and Winchester Cathedral are a testament to his musical ability and rising popularity. A dedicated chamber musician, Michael also collaborates regularly by performing and recording with a diverse range of artists; including the violinist Alexander Markov, the pianist Nico de Villiers, and the flamenco guitarist Samuel Moore.
Michael studied classical guitar with Maestro Carlos Bonell, professor of guitar at the Royal College of Music (RCM), London and Maestro Giulio Tampalini at Accademia della Chitarra di Brescia in Italy. He studied full-time as a master’s student at the RCM and was awarded an MSc with distinction in 2018. Notably, Michael was the first classical guitarist to be awarded a master’s studentship from the RCM and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), covering his full tuition fees and living expenses throughout the duration of his studies at the College.
Highlights for the forthcoming 2019/20 Concert Season include Michael’s most extensive international solo tour to date, a performance of Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Romancero Gitano, Op. 152 in the Cayman Islands, and a performance of Joaquín Rodrigo’s Fantasia para un Gentilhombre in Berlin Germany.
Michael Christian Durrant plays a 2008 Greg Smallman concert guitar.
https://www.michaelchristiandurrant.com
Samuel Moore
flamenco guitar
Having recently been described as “A fantastic flamenco guitarist” (BBC Radio 3), Samuel Moore is fast establishing himself as one of the UK’s leading flamenco musicians.
He continues to perform in venues across the UK, Europe and North America, with past tours involving concerts in Café Universel in Paris, Rue-B in New York, The 100 Club in London, the Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall in Leeds, and Ely Cathedral.
Whilst Samuel is best known for his work as a solo artist, he is also a committed ensemble musician and frequently collaborates with other performers. Current collaborative projects include performing and recording alongside the classical guitarist Michael Christian Durrant, and touring with a handpicked company of flamenco dancers and singers under the ensemble name Flamenco Puro.
Samuel initially learnt his craft by working with the recordings of great flamenco maestros of the past and producing transcriptions of their pieces. He later became a student of the world- renowned flamenco guitarist Juan Martín. Always keen to learn, Samuel has also attended masterclasses with other leading flamenco artists, including the great Paco Peña. Notably, Samuel was awarded a £10,000 career development grant by Arts Council England in 2019 to help fund a period of extended work and studies in Spain with a selection of the foremost Gitano singers in Andalucía.
When not on tour or recording, Samuel enjoys passing on his musical knowledge through teaching. Between 2012-2017 he held the permanent teaching post of Course Leader for Flamenco Guitar Studies at the Instituto de Cervantes, the Spanish government’s international institute for language and culture. Furthermore, Samuel has also been invited to lead flamenco workshops and present guest lectures at The University of Cambridge and The University of Leeds. Samuel continues to work with a select number of private students in the UK alongside presenting workshops for guitar societies and flamenco collectives.
Samuel plays a Kevin Richards blanca concert guitar and uses D'addario guitar strings.
Nia Coleman
soprano
Soprano Nia Coleman completed her training in the Opera School at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She graduated from The Royal Academy of Music with a Master of Arts in Vocal Performance and from The University of Manchester with a First Class Bachelor of Arts in Music and Drama.
Operatic roles include Kitty Hart in the UK staged premiere of Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking; Bubikopf in Der Kaiser Von Atlantis (Ullman), Musetta in La Bohème (Puccini); Nella in Gianni Schicchi (Puccini) and the role of Zerbinetta in excerpts from Ariadne auf Naxos (Strauss).
Nia has previously sung for DEBUT in recital at the Royal Opera House in the Crush Room. Other concert work includes a recital with Independent Opera and Simon Lepper at the Wigmore Hall, a solo guest performance with RSNO Chamber Orchestra singing Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas-Brasileiras No.5, as well as performances for RSNO In Focus concerts singing Bernstein’s Glitter and be Gay and Brahms’ Requiem.
Roles as an actress and actor-musician include Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare) devising a new work, Sister, for Spitalfields Summer Music Festival and Time of Listening for Snape Maltings Festival of New. Future engagements include the role of Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte (Mozart) with Amersham Festival Orchestra in Spring 2020.
Nia holds an Independent Opera Scholarship & Fellowship Award 2018-20.
Laura Serra
piano
Spanish pianist Laura Serra is a solo and collaborative pianist, composer, and songwriter. Laura is currently studying her masters at the Royal College of Music with Norma Fisher and Gordon Fergus-Thompson. She was awarded a distinction for her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid (Spain).
Laura has won prizes at national and international competitions including Piano “Grand-Klavier” (Madrid, Spain) and Ruperto Chapi (Alicante, Spain). Laura writes and performs for Ice Crime, a soul-rock music band based in Spain. They have just released their first LP “Ataraxia” (March 2018) and did a tour around Spain in different cities such as Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, and Mallorca. Other collaborative projects include her duo with Pau Enric Serra, a violinist, guitarist and bass player with whom they have formed the music group “Alanaire” and a duo with Raul Castro, a clarinetist studying his Masters of Performance in Switzerland, with whom they explore the clarinet and piano repertoire, from Brahms to Hindemith.
Recently, Laura finished her Masters in Performance Science at the Royal College of Music, where she was awarded a distinction for her research project on the impact of sleep on music students’ wellbeing, and she is currently studying a Psychology Degree at the National University of Distance Education in Madrid, Spain.
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