Touring Autumn 2024
Richard Durrant’s regular visits to this fascinating and magical part of South America have earned him accolades and awards whilst his concerts and trilogy of Paraguayan albums have uncovered the richness of guitar music being written in the region today. He is now widely recognised as one of the world’s leading interpreters of the music of Agustín Barrios.
“The public acclaimed him not only because he presented an all-Barrios program…but because of his passion and tenderness, qualities that he communicates through his magnificent playing of the classic guitar.”
Rico Stover. Barrios biographer and ethnomusicologist
In this entertaining and colourful concert Richard explores the mysteries of La Ruta Mangoreana, uncovering the beauty of Paraguayan music and sharing stories from the central southern cone of South America. He also explains how all this began for him on a number 26 Brighton corporation bus.
“I have never heard anything like it. Durrant seems to be having fun with each measure, with each phrase and passage, each different, each delicate.“
Carlos Salcedo Author of ‘El Inalcanzable’ and authority on the life of Barrios.
If you are interested in booking this concert for your venue, please email louise@richarddurrant.com for further details and availability.
About Richard
Richard Durrant is a composer and recording artist who defies categorisation. He is one of the leading guitar virtuosos of his generation who, uniquely, performs standing up. He now writes a high proportion of his own concert music. Richard is a passionate supporter of music literacy, especially amongst guitarists.
Richard has performed worldwide. He is celebrated in Paraguay for his playing of the music of Agustin Barrios and his lyrical, virtuosic interpretations of JS Bach’s works, often played on ukulele, have received critical acclaim. Richard has played live sessions on BBC Radios 2, 3, 4, 6 Music and Classic FM.
In more recent years Richard has worked hard to develop a more environmentally informed approach to performing. He plays his annual, solo British Isles concert tour carrying his instruments on a bicycle and trailer. For his 2022 tour he cycled from Orkney to Sussex playing 16 concerts along the way. He regularly performs in cathedrals, concert halls, theatres, churches, forests and fields.
Richard studied guitar, composition and cello at the Royal College of Music between 1981 and 1986. He has appeared as guest soloist with the RPO in the Royal Albert Hall and received an award from Prince Charles for his work supporting art in the community.
Richard Durrant ARCM, Dip RCM, FLCM