Library Concert - October 2013
Last month I had the immense pleasure of performing for an audience of 110 people at the Auckland Central Library music suite. What made the event special was my decision to play a new guitar, made by Rod Capper, which I had picked up only a couple of days earlier. The instrument is inspired by an 1833 guitar made by the famous Panormo family of makers. One of the brothers, Louis Panormo, settled in New Zealand with his family, farming land on the Awhitu Peninsula, Manukau Heads, Auckland.
I explained to the audience that 19th-century instruments were quieter than modern classical guitars and that they would need to listen carefully. This paid off beautifully — during the three pieces I performed, studies by Fernando Sor in D major, B♭ major, and A major, you could have heard a pin drop. The audience was clearly fascinated by the new/old guitar and, to my delight (and some relief!), responded generously with their applause.
December 7th Alberton Concert
With the Saturday 7 December : The 19th Century Guitar - Alberton 150th concert fast approaching, it has been a very busy time. The concert will feature not only the Capper-Panormo guitar from the library performance, but also an original 1823 Panormo guitar, kindly made available by a descendant of the Panormo family. Additionally, a superb 1864 Torres guitar copy, also by Rod Capper, was made specially for the concert. A second Capper-Panormo guitar will allow performances of 19th-century duets.
After note: The two Capper-Panormo guitars accompanied Imogen Abernethy, who sang several songs that were once popular during the Victorian era.