Press Kit
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Images
by Bård Peter Thrane
Reviews
“Paul Galbraith has something near genius.” – Classical Music
“His musicality is so 'authentic' that every note carries the hallmark of truth. He held his audience in rapt silence as if spellbound by some magician.” – The Scotsman
“I've never heard anyone play like this. Galbraith seemed to have transcended technique and established a personal connection with an inner source. Everything sounded like a masterpiece that evening.” – Classical Guitar
“Exceptional artistry.” – The New Yorker
“Worth traveling long distances to hear.” – The Guardian, UK
“A concert of extraordinary clarity and precision.. some of the most delectable sounds I have heard on a guitar.” – Colin Cooper, Classical Guitar
“Mr. Galbraith’s technique was not a gimmick, but a tool to create music. His phrasing was superbly clear and executed with ease . . . a memorable and musically convincing concert.” – Guitar Review
“What many had come to see and hear was the revolutionary change he has brought to playing the guitar . . . the results were truly remarkable, with an amazing clarity and a huge dynamic range I have never before heard from any guitarist. The audience was held spellbound.” – The Sunday Times
“Playing of mind-boggling brilliance. His technique is breathtaking, yet at no time was it in any way more important than the music.” – The Scotsman
Biography
Paul Galbraith is internationally renowned as one of the foremost guitarists of our time. His revolutionary approach to guitar playing has made him an instantly recognizable figure in classical music, but it is ultimately his interpretative breadth which has captivated audiences the world over.
Paul plays a unique 8-string guitar, which he developed in 1993 together with renowned luthier, David Rubio. As a convenient means of differentiating it from the traditional 8-string guitar, Rubio called it the ʻBrahms Guitarʼ, reflecting Rubio's enthusiasm for the way this guitar, with its rich sound and wide range, performed in the music of Brahms, through Paul's transcription and rendition of the Op21a Variations.
On this instrument, Paul has recorded a series of highly acclaimed albums, most famously Bach's complete Solo-violin Sonatas & Partitas, which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1998.
An individual approach to guitar posture was developed early on when, at age 20, following a period of intense investigation into technique, Paul discovered a playing position which allowed equal freedom of movement for both arms. Within three years, this developed into the cellist's posture he is associated with today.
Paul began concertizing in his late teens, having come to public attention in Great Britain through a series of televised competition successes. Since then, Paul has performed throughout the European Union, as well as in China, South America, Russia, Norway, Australia, Canada and India. From the early nineties onwards, he has toured regularly throughout the USA.
Paul has appeared with several of the major orchestras and ensembles in Britain and Europe, such as: the BBC Orchestras, the Royal Philharmonic, the St Petersburg Quartet, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Halle, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the European Chamber Orchestra, the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, and the Shanghai Quartet. Most recently he has formed a duo with legendary Brazilian cellist, Antonio Meneses.