Brilliant Benslow Music Live Online

Just finished the Benslow Music Guitar Summer School today Sunday 9th August. Normally this takes place in a beautiful residence near London, but this year was online. I want to thank the participants for sharing music and making these 3 days so inspiring. It still seems a miracle to me that I could hear William Giovanni playing live from Colombia, and Uros Jacevic live from Serbia, while the rest of us were in the UK and in Spain. The range of music was awesome as was the standard of much of the playing. It included Vincent Lindsey-Clark's delightful piece Laura (named after someone close?), Koshkin's musical gothic horror The Usher Waltz, Merlin's Evocation from Suite del Recuerdo, Gary Ryan's tongue in cheek Hot Club Francaise, and lots more. I look forward to next year whether in beautiful Benslow or online.... Read more

Teaching online

2020
Given the present situation and for the foreseeable future all Carlos' teaching is on line:

"Zoom has given me an opportunity to extend my teaching beyond The Royal College of Music and help players whom I would not normally be able to meet in person. And that is something I really value. Don't hesitate to get in touch!"

email: info@carlosbonell.com
More info

Bach sarabande video

25th May 2020
The sarabande BWV996 reimagined.
Recorded by Carlos at home during lockdown on 10th April, this is a video that communicates a positive, life-enhancing message.
Watch video

Zoomed Guitars Live Every Monday Free!

4th May 2020
Carlos introduces and presents players from London's UCL Guitar Classes every Monday 6.30 - 7.30pm (UK time). You are welcome to attend the sessions.
email: info@carlosbonell.com
More info

Benslow Guitar Summer School online

Aimed at classical guitarists of upper intermediate standard an intensive programme oi solo and ensemble playing, spiced with a thorough technical work-out and especially devised exercises.

This is programmed to go ahead virtually from 7th to 9th August, 2020.
More info

Concerts and recitals 2020

All live concerts subject to confirmation due to the Corona virus. Watch this space for up to date information nearer the time

Tonight Monday 20th January! Guitar classes with Carlos at the UCL London

- Every Monday from 20th January to 30th March except 17th February at the UCL, Central London WC1 -
6pm: Performance Class
7.35pm Ensemble Class
Want to try out and perform your pieces every week? Need to improve your technique? Like to play in a guitar ensemble?
See more

Merry Christmas....

....to everyone! Carlos

Live in London!

Sunday 1st December 7.30pm
Ealing Guitar Society Anniversary Concert,
St Matthew's Church Hall,
North Common Road,
London W5 2QA
Music includes Villa-Lobos - Preludes / Pheloung - Inspector Morse theme / Brouwer - Cuban Landscape with Bells / Coeck - Suite Nocturna (London première) / and more....
More info

Live in concert in Norfolk!

Live in concert this Sunday 3pm!
Sunday 20th October, 3pm
Music includes Villa-Lobos - Preludes / Pheloung - Inspector Morse theme / Brouwer - Cuban Landscape with Bells / Coeck - Midnight Dance / and more....
Overstrand, North Norfolk, UK
Cromer Music Evenings,
Belfry Centre for Music and Arts
More info

Next concert - near London

Carlos will be giving a recital at Castle Village, Berkhamsted on Saturday 21st September. Watch this space for programme information.
More info and book tickets
http://www.carlosbonell.com/tour-dates.php

Carlos' Guitar Summer School

Friday 9th - Monday 12th August 2019
- Hitchin, Hertfordshire, near London - All players welcome of grade 7 upwards. An intense, full-on 3 days of solo and ensemble music, and thorough technical work-out!
Book your place now!

UCL Guitar classes from Monday 3rd June

Back after the Whitsun break, the classes continue every Monday until 1st July. Dust off your guitar and file your nails for a short but intense 5 weeks! If you have never attended before or are a lapsed attendee you are very welcome.
More information

Live in London!

-Carlos Bonell: Music at Gallants Farm Road, East Barnet-
Sunday 14th April, 4pm
Carlos's personal selection of music from the Baroque to the 21st century.
The first in a series of intimate house concerts and a chance to hear and meet Carlos in a completely informal setting.
Programme highlights include the themes from Rodrigo's guitar concerto and from the Inspector Morse series as recorded by Carlos himself.
Free street parking
Free glass of wine and soft drinks included
There is limited space so book now to avoid disappointment.
Book tickets

Armand Coeck's Mystical Movements

World premiere recording of a beautiful new piece by Armand Coeck -
Watch vídeo

The Aranjuez Concerto - in Zaragoza, Spain

Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez live in Zaragoza, Spain -
The World Tour continues....
More info

The Aranjuez concerto - live in Madrid!

Saturday 26th January 2019 -
Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez live in Madrid -
Carlos with La Orquesta Clásica Santa Cecilia,
Sala de Cámara
Auditorio Nacional de Música
The World Tour continues....

Live in Valladolid, Spain!

Sunday, 4th November
7pm
Carlos plays Joaquín Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez with
Orquesta Clásica Santa Cecilia,
Conductor: Kynan Johns
- Centro Cultural Miguel Delibes, Valladolid, Spain-
Book tickets

Live in Aarhus Denmark!

Saturday 13th October 8pm
Aarhus, Denmark
Programme includes the Inspector Morse theme music; Mystical Movements, the new work by Armand Coeck; Pheloung's Tjukurpa inspired by the Aboriginal dreamtime; Bach suite in E minor; Villa-Lobos 5 preludes.
Sunday 14th October: Masterclass
More info... Read more

Live in Barcelona!

2nd October, 20.30
Carlos Bonell plays Joaquín Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez,
Palau de la Música, Barcelona, with the Orquesta Clásica Santa Cecilia,
Conductor:José Luis López Antón
Book tickets

The Heart Asks Pleasure First - video

...from the film The Piano.
Music by Michael Nyman, arranged by Carlos, played on two guitars by Brad Richter and Carlos.
Click here to view
... Read more

TV's Inspector Morse theme - video

Carlos plays his own arrangement of the theme for solo guitar. Just uploaded to Youtube in a recording at his favourite venue in Norfolk, England.
Click here to view
... Read more

The UCL Guitar Classes

From Monday, 17th September, directed by Carlos the Monday classes are open to keen players of Grade 7 standard (or equivalent) and above.
Want to try out and perform your pieces every week? Like to play in a guitar ensemble?... Read more

A Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra by Paul McCartney

Carlos is helping Sir Paul McCartney with a concerto for guitar and orchestra that the ex-Beatle is composing. Over many meetings since the beginning of 2006 Carlos has been notating and pre-recording the guitar part at Sir Paul's studio in England.... Read more

The Classical World Tour continues...

Carlos will be giving concerts in the UK and Europe during 2018-19 including music from his albums Guitar Magic and Magical Mystery Guitar Tour. He will also be playing Armand Coeck's latest work for solo guitar Mystical Movements and Barrington ("Inspector Morse") Pheloung's Dreamtime. Check out the Tour Dates page to find out whether he will be playing somewhere near you.

Carlos live in concert!

During the summer Carlos presented recitals in Norwich, Portsmouth, Valencia and Copenhagen
including a programme with two new works and a revival of Barrington Pheloung's Dreamtime composed in 1999.... Read more

UCL list of guest artists at end of term concerts

On the last day of term of the UCL guitar classes, you can play in a public concert shared with a special guest artist.... Read more

Mexico and the USA - the world tour continues

Carlos will be back on tour in Mexico and the USA during December and January. Watch this space and the Tour Dates page for updates.

Inspector Morse is back

The ever popular TV detective is back, this time as a young man in a new series called "Endeavour". And Carlos is back on the new soundtrack just as he was in the original series 30 years ago!

From Royal Courts to Strawberry Fields - all seats sold in London!

Sunday 15th October, 7pm
The Old Church
Stoke Newington Church St, N16 0JR

Carlos returned to one of the oldest churches in London to present a wide selection of guitar music ranging from his best-selling no.1 Beatles album to Bach's suite in E minor and Villa-Lobos' 5 preludes. Also on the programme two amazing 20th century pieces: Brouwer's Cuban Landscape with Bells and Sir John Tavener's Chant. Carlos says "The Old Church has one of the finest acoustics to hear classical guitar. It is just ideal!"

Saturday 30th September in Bruxelles

Carlos Bonell live at the Bosuil, Bruxelles, Belgium!
30 September, 2017
with guests Tango Duo Dante & Moniq, Ben Carmona
More info
Blog page
Book tickets
The World Tour continues....

The Aranjuez Concerto in London 1st July 2017

Here is an opportunity to hear Carlos play Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar and orchestra in Woodford Green. Carlos was the first guitarist to make a digital recording of the concerto...
... Read more

Carlos returns to Heidelberg, Germany, for a solo recital

On 12th May Carlos made a highly successful return - after 20 years - to Heidelberg for a solo recital.

... Read more

World Premiere of a new work by Armand Coeck

Carlos gave the first performance of Twilight by the Belgian composer Armand Coeck on Friday 17th March at the Aalborg International Guitar Festival, Denmark. Carlos describes the piece as "a work which captures a mood: the fading of the light and that moment of stillness before night. It is beautiful and encourages the imagination to wander." Carlos also played music by Villa-Lobos, Sanz, Sor and his celebrated arrangements of music by The Beatles.
More information
Book tickets

Live Brunch Music at the Royal Albert Hall

- Live Music Brunch, Sunday 12th March, 12.00pm -
Carlos played at the Live Music Brunch as part of the Love Classical series. It takes place in the Hall's Verdi restaurant which offers casual dining and great music within one of London's most iconic settings. Your ticket includes a welcome drink, main course and dessert, served with tea or coffee, all accompanied by great live music.

Concierto de Aranjuez in the Channel Islands

Carlos played Joaquín Rodrigo´s Concierto de Aranjuez in Jersey on Saturday 28th January to a full house at the Opera House in St Helier. The Jersey Evening Post wrote "Carlos Bonell entered to rapturous applause from audience and orchestra alike...it wasn't long before I understood why the English-Spanish musician had received such an ecstatic welcome."... Read more

Live in concert in the USA

Carlos Bonell and Brad Richter, guitars, in Gold Canyon and Tucson Arizona, USA, presented a unique programme in January of solos and duets including music by Michael Nyman, Armand Coeck and Brad Richter plus lots more. See the Tour Dates page for more information.

London concert featured new music and old classics

Three Centuries, Three Continents - was the title of Carlos' London concert at the Old Church in Stoke Newington, Hackney on Sunday 9th October, 7pm. The programme included a range of moods from the classical beauty of Sor and the Spanish elegance of Torroba - to the mystery of the constellations in stunning music by Armand Coeck, and Phillip Houghton's darkly dramatic "Ophelia - a haunted sonata".
Click here for online box office
Click here for more info

Alirio Díaz 1923-2016

Carlos plays tribute to the great Venezuelan guitarist Alirio Díaz who died this week. "A supreme guitarist, wonderful arranger, and a warm and totally engaging human being". Read the article here in the Blog page.

GUITAR MAGIC

...is the title of Carlos' latest album. For a track list and to order click here.
Free mailing world-wide.

CARLOS BONELL GUITARS

- CARLOS BONELL GUITARS MADE IN SPAIN -
Carefully researched and developed for several years they are soon to be available in the shops and on the internet. Watch this space for further announcements.
Click on Read more to see photo of a Carlos Bonell guitar headstock.... Read more

DOWNLOAD ONLINE CARLOS' ARRANGEMENTS IN SHEET MUSIC AND TABS

Sheet music and tabs for solo guitar pieces recorded by Carlos are on internet sale sites' best sellers' lists. They are now available for download from Faber Music

Click on "Read more" to see full list of sheet music, and to see photo... Read more

GUITAR PLAYING SHOULD BE A STRESS-FREE ZONE

- I am writing these words from my New York hotel at 5pm. I have just arrived. I'm OK - but only just... -

Read it all here in the Blog page.... Read more

IT'S OFFICIAL: SCIENTISTS PROVE PRACTISE MAKES PERFECT!

- Also: an Apache Concerto, the best fish dish ever, and my week in Mexico -
Read it all in the Blog page.

RIGHT HAND TECHNIQUE STARTS IN YOUR HEAD

- first get the sound right, and dexterity will follow on from that -
Read it all here in the Blog page.

ESSENTIAL REP UNWRAPPED: JULIA FLORIDA BY AGUSTIN BARRIOS

- a man possessed, by a note obsessed -
Read it all here in the Blog page.

ESSENTIAL REP UNWRAPPED 1

- an insider's guide to Falla's Tombeau -
Read it all here in the Blog page.

CARLOS' YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Click on the Youtube icon here at the top and you will be transported to Carlos' very own channel, where you will be able to see and hear a selection of music from Bach to the Beatles as performed by Carlos.

ON YOUTUBE:

Carlos in video from Arizona Apache Tour, USA, with Brad Richter playing Guitar Duo III by Brad Richter.
Click on this link to view.

SEE RECORDING OF CARLOS ON BBC BREAKFAST TV

Click here to watch the 2012 recording of Carlos on BBC Breakfast TV talking and playing tracks from his Beatles' album Magical Mystery Guitar Tour.
After Carlos' appearance:
- The Magical Mystery Guitar Tour album went to number one in the UK itunes classical album chart -
- Here Comes the Sun went to number four in the itunes classical song chart -
- The Magical Mystery Guitar Tour album went to number eight in the overall itunes album chart! -

CARLOS GOES TO THE TOP OF THE CHARTS!

On the same day of Carlos' appearance on BBC Breakfast TV the Magical Mystery Guitar Tour album went to number one in the UK itunes classical album chart.
Also:
- Here Comes the Sun went to number four in the itunes classical song chart -
- Magical Mystery Guitar Tour album went to number eight in the overall itunes album chart! -
The album is avalailable here at the Store page or on Amazon.

BRAND NEW PROGRAMME OF MUSIC BY RUSSIAN MASTERS

Carlos plays music by Koshkin, Shostakovitch, Tchaikovsky and Vassiliev on Saturday 10th May at the Isle of Jersey's Liberation Arts Festival.
See the Tour dates page for more information, here at the website.

PACO DE LUCIA: AN APPRECIATION

- Read it all here in the Blog page -

NOVEMBER 1963: THE MONTH THAT CHANGED THE GUITAR, AND THE WORLD, FOREVER

Read Carlos' latest blog here in the Blog page.
... Read more

Carlos is greeted by Dark Horse for his Lammas recital

On his return to Lammas Norfolk on 31st August for a recital Carlos is greeted by his old friend Dark Horse just in front of St Andrew's Church. Dark Horse was here last time too, and came up to say hello. Click on Read more to see photo.
... Read more

Carlos with Michael Nyman

Carlos met with composer Michael Nyman in Mexico City to play him Carlos' own guitar arrangement of music for the film "The Piano".
See the latest blog My Summer in Pictures for more pictures from an eventful summer.
Click on "Read more" to see photo... Read more

THE COMPLETE BLOG INDEX

Here is a complete index to all the blogs Carlos has posted since 2010, listed alphabetically by category. Happy reading!

Guitar Camp in the Jungle

- The joys and fears of a simple plucker as he braves the unknown -
"...dark thoughts disturbed my usually calm mind at the mention of prowling tigers..."
Read Carlos' recent blog here in the Blog Page.
Click on "Read more" to see new photo.... Read more