CARLOS' GUITAR SUMMER SCHOOL 11th to 14th AUGUST 2017, NEAR LONDON

Benslow Music: from 11th to 14th August in 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 STUDENTS' CONCERT WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

MONDAY 26th June *7pm*
- UCL GUITAR STUDENTS CONCERT -
SPECIAL GUESTS The NOVA Guitar Duo: NELLY VON ALVEN and LUIZ MANTOVANI (guitars)
play Scarlatti, Rebay, Villa-Lobos, Mompou and de Falla
FREE ADMISSION!
at the Sir David Davies Lecture Theatre,
Roberts G08,
UCL,
Torrington Place,
London WC1E 7JE
Map
PLUS A WIDE RANGE OF SOLOS AND ENSEMBLE PIECES presented and directed by Carlos Bonell.
Free parking after 6.30pm!
*Note starting time of 7pm*
UCL Guitar Classes are directed by Carlos Bonell. Write for more information.

THE ARANJUEZ CONCERTO IN LONDON

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: that performance with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra was described as "a magnificent triumph" by the Classical Music magazine, and for many years singled out by the Penguin CD Guide as the finest recording available. Woodford Green is in North East London. By tube you can reach it on the Central Line. Walk, drive, bike, or tube it - but don't miss it!
Venue address and telephone booking

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. To a packed house he gave the first performance in Germany of Armand Coeck's Evening Star, which is dedicated to Carlos. He describes the piece as "a work which captures a sense of wonder, like lying back on a cloudless night and admiring the stars. As an interesting contrast I am also playing Coeck's Constellations which he composed 30 years ago, and which also takes its inspiration from the heavens above!"

Carlos Live in concert

Carlos will be giving a recital called Three Centuries, Three Continents on 6th May in a beautiful church in Wirksworth. The programme includes Villa-Lobos' 5 preludes, J.S. Bach's lute suite in E minor, Torroba's Madroños, and Phillip Houghton's Kinkachoo, I love you. This will also be a chance to hear Carlos' arrangements of the Beatles' Penny Lane and Here Comes The Sun from his iTunes no. 1 selling album Magical Mystery Guitar Tour. The second part of the recital will open with some amazing music by the Belgian composer Armand Coeck: Constellations (1986) and Evening Star, composed last year and dedicated to Carlos.
Click here to book tickets.
Click here for more information.

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

The Classical World Tour continues...

Carlos will be giving concerts in the UK, Denmark, Germany, Spain and the Americas during 2017 including much-loved iconic music from his new album Guitar Magic and world premieres of music by Armand Coeck and Brad Richter.

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

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." His Decca recording of the concerto was hailed as the finest available by various critics and was a awarded a covetted rosette by the Penguin CD guide.

The UCL Guitar Classes, London

...started again on Monday 23rd January.
Class times alternate week by week with the Performance Class starting at 6pm or 6.15pm, and the Ensemble Class starting at 7.35pm or 8pm. Click here for more information.

Directed by Carlos the Monday classes are open to keen players of Grade 7 standard (or equivalent) and above. This term Forbes Henderson will be directing some of the classes.
Want to brush up your guitar-playing? Need to improve your technique? Like to play in a guitar ensemble? Open to dedicated amateur players and aspirant pros - just turn up any Monday.
UCL guitar classes are open to dedicated amateurs and professionals.
Click here for more information.... 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.

Click on Read more to see the list of previous distinguished guest artists.... 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
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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