Alex Alguacil

MUNDOCLÁSICO - Juan Krakenberger. Cambrils International Music Festival. August 4th, 2010. Brotons: Dedicatories op. 112; Alexander Scriabin: Sonata in f-sharp minor No. 3; Manuel De Falla: Four Spanish pieces and Fantasia Baetica. “I admit this is the first time I hear the name of Alex Alguacil, but I hope it won’t be the last. There is no doubt of his technical capabilities, and he far proved so with this difficult program. His biography explains he spent some years in New York and became a sort of  ambassador to Catalan and Spanish music. It is obvious he likes the late-romantic and modern periods.(…) As a result of that, he had the honor of premiering a work by the Catalan composer Salvador Brotons.(…) I found his version to be flawless, expressing with each piece the exact character meant by the composer.(…). Because of the extended ovation, he offered two encores: first, La Milonga del Ángel by Astor Piazzolla, and second, the popular Dance from La Vida Breve by Manuel de Falla. Good dynamic contrasts and lots of energy made the audience stand to a closed ovation for the pianist. We had witnessed a very impressive recital.” More Info.

LA VANGUARDIA – Jaume Radigales. Auditori of Barcelona, Sala Oriol Martorell. July 16th 2009. Debussy: Images Book II; Brotons: Impromptu Op. 37; Manuel De Falla: Fantasia Baetica; F. Chopin: Scherzo 1, 2, 3 i 4. “The career of Alex Alguacil is developing in a way closely related with the talent of a pianist who is, undoubtlessly, a virtuoso. He showed his abilities in his second appearance in Barcelona’s Auditori, with a program to “settle down” things. If one had to choose from the program, Debussy’s second book of Images would be my favorite one, performed with clear lines, immaculate phrasing and an intelligent pedalling. Same happened with the Piazolla as a second encore, as if Alguacil had wanted to conclude his circle of perfection. The recital followed up with the Impromptu Op. 37 by the Catalan composer Salvador Brotons, where the incisive energy of the pianist was substancially shown. The first half concluded with the Fantasia Baetica, resolved with extreme contrasts, maybe excessive, very distant from the taste of the aforementioned piece by Debussy. It was after the intermission, and with Chopin’s 4 Scherzi , where Alguaci’ls virtuous and vigorous playing found its place, trying to pursue the exact meaning of the sound that supports the musical speech.  His skills are of a good quality, his potential unarguable and the talent wide for an intelligent pianist with a secure projection in the piano scene.” More info.

Carnegie Hall – Début of Alex Alguacil at Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall! The recital will take place on November 13th 2008, with the support of The Consulate of Spain in New York and the Art-Modern foundation. Alguacil, recent winner of the Joseph and Rosalind Stone International award piano competition, has recently been presented to American audiences as a soloist with the Vancouver Symphony orchestra and with the Bergen Philarmonic orchestra, performing Brahms  piano Concerto in D minor and Prokofiev’s 3rd piano concerto. In his début at Carnegie Hall he will perform works by Debussy, Prokofiev, and Chopin’s four Scherzi. More info.

CD COMPACT MAGAZINE – Lluís Trullén. Torroella de Montgrí Festival. Granados: The Maiden and the Nightingle, Fandango del Candil; F. Chopin: Two Polonaises; Brotons: Impromptu Op 37; Liszt: Sonate in B minor - CD Compact Magazine, Lluís Trullén – “With a brilliant program pianist Alex Alguacil made his début at the Torroella de Montgrí Festival, showing promising technical and musical skills. Alguacil is a pianist who displays great technical feasibility, his confidence never undermined by the most difficult passages. Quite the contrary, he seems to seek those passages in which he can expose all his musical potential, big sound and strength. (…) Alguacil approached Liszt’s B minor Sonata with unarguable knowledge of one of the great peaks of romantic literature, where the essential, depth, poetry, warmth, majesty and controlled outbursts appeared as the pianists’ version unfolded. A high caliber interpretation which undoubtedly Alguacil will mould over future performances (…) A pianist with an unarguable musical future.”

Barcelona Symphony Orchestra

Alex Alguacil, Piano

Jaques Mercier, conductor

May 12th & 13th, 2007

Serguey Prokofiev – Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major