Verity Solo Session 2

“Pavel gave a spellbinding concert. His technique is so effortless, graceful and poetic. The audience went crazy, stood up, and cheered him. It was the best guitar concert I’ve been to in years.” – John Williams

Following the success of his Wigmore Hall debut for the Julian Bream Trust, Pavel Ralev returns to Australia for his second tour of the country in May 2024.

Through his programme “On Repeat” Pavel explores the effects of repetition and drones on human emotion and the perception of time. The music leads us through a wave of gradually dissolving material: dense harmonies by jazz guitarist Ant Law are followed by Bach’s second Violin Partita, culminating with the Chaconne – his longest solo instrumental movement, constructed of 64 variations on a four-bar theme. Domeniconi’s Koyunbaba utilises a deeply resonating open C sharp minor tuning to envelop us in a meditative atmosphere with droning basses and repetitive middle-eastern themes. To finish, Pavel will perform his take on Steve Reich’s modern classic Electric Counterpoint – the first acoustic performance since 1993 and a joyful celebration of the guitar (“an excellent recording. Bravo!” – S. Reich).

Pavel will appear at the Canberra International Music Festival, Queensland Conservatorium (Brisbane), University of Western Australia (Perth), Tempo Rubato (Melbourne), Wayville House (Adelaide) and a benefit concert for Ukrainian refugees supported by the United Nations at The Hedberg (Hobart, Tasmania).