Classical Guitarist Cem Duruoz to Debut "Concerto Anatolia"

by Linda Kessler.

Classical Guitarist Cem Duruöz. Photo by Steve Savage.

The world premiere performance takes place January 18, 2008, with the Antalya State Symphony Orchestra, in Turkey. The U.S. premiere will be part of the Fourth International Guitar Festival at Round Top in Texas on February 16, 2008.

Following the premiere performances of the guitar concerto, Cem Duruöz returns to Carnegie Hall next May for a solo recital titled “Guitar in Turkey” presenting his own arrangements of Turkish guitar music as well as the works of emerging Turkish composers. Turkish-American guitarist Duruöz is described by Sharon Isbin as having “virtuosic technique and elegant artistry.” His innovative recital program incorporates the French Baroque music of Marin Marais, solo tango classics from Argentina and most recently, music of his native country, Turkey.

Duruöz has performed on four continents in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Japan, France, Greece, Bosnia, Spain, Serbia, Poland, Mexico, and throughout Turkey and the U.S. His recent concerts include performances of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez with the Turkish National Symphony, a French Baroque Concert at the prestigious Istanbul Festival, recitals at the Baščaršijske Noći Festival in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Gliwice Guitar Festival in Poland, Amigos de la Guitarra in Spain as well as the world premiere performance of the Jazz Concerto by Robert Strizich. His 2007-2008 season includes recitals at the Connecticut and Boston Classical Guitar Societies and the National Conservatory in Argentina and a concert and master classes at the Semana International de Guitarra in Spain, in addition to the premieres of the Anatolia Guitar Concerto.

A multi-faceted musician, Cem Duruöz has collaborated with bandoneón master Raul Jaurena, gambist John Dornenburg, conductor Michel Tabachnik and soprano Camille Zamora. A frequent soloist, he has appeared with more than ten orchestras regularly performing Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez among others.

Duruöz has released three CDs to international critical acclaim. Pièces de Viole, featuring his arrangements of Marais’ French Baroque gamba music, and Contemporary Music for Guitar were released by Centaur Records. His most recent solo CD, Desde el Alma - Tango Classics, was released last year on the ADA-Müzik label and called “a masterpiece” by Argentine critics. The CD features a variety of tango styles such as the milonga and vals as well as some of the most famous tangos transcribed by Duruöz using the interpretations of the legendary Argentine Tango orchestras of the 20th century.

Related Link
Cem Duruöz Website
Fourth International Guitar Festival at Round Top