Saturday, April 16: Racine Public Library Presents New York Classical Guitarist Peter Fletcher

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., celebrates the return of award-winning New York classical guitarist and recording artist Peter Fletcher with a free performance on Saturday, April 16 at 2:00pm. The event is open to the public and seating is available on a first come/first served basis.

This concert will feature selections from Fletcher's 2008 CD release on Tower Hill Records: Music of the Baroque. Other repertoire will include Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring from Cantata No. 147 as well as the Chaconne in D minor by J. S. Bach; Usher-Waltz, an unusual and intense piece by Russian guitarist and composer Nikita Koshkin; two works from Maurice Ravel's exquisite Mother Goose Suite, and music of Weiss, Albeniz, Villa-Lobos Ponce, Reusner, and Grieg.

The program will culminate with Koyunbaba, by composer/guitarist Carlo Domeniconi. This is one of the most unique and exciting works in the classical guitar repertoire.

Peter Fletcher began guitar study at the age of seven under classical guitar instructor, John Sutherland. In December, 1983, he made his formal debut at the age of fifteen under the auspices of The Brasstown Concert Association in North Carolina. Wrote the critic of The Cherokee Scout, "He has technical facility but what one remembers about his playing is the nuances, the poetical phrasing, dynamic and tonal changes, his harmonics, his cadences."

Fletcher has studied extensively with world renowned classical guitarists such as Jose Tomas, David Leisner, David Russell, Oscar Ghiglia and Pepe Romero. In 1995, he received the Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music under Nicholas Goluses, and was twice the recipient of an Eastman Graduate Award.

In demand as a performer, Mr. Fletcher has been invited to give recitals at cultural venues throughout the country. He made his New York Debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in February 2007, and returned in March 2009.

Peter Fletcher's three recordings, The Art of Classical Guitar, A Peter Fletcher Recital and Federico Mompou: Guitar Works (Centaur Records CRC 2588), have received critical acclaim.
In September '05 Centaur Records released Peter Fletcher plays Erik Satie (CRC 2731). Steven Rings from The American Record Guide states: "The works all sit very nicely on the guitar, and Fletcher's performances are taut and incisive, counteracting the common tendency to play Satie's music like sleepy New Age."

Wrote Steven Rings of The American Record Guide: "He has a strong technique, a consistent tone, and a strong interpretive imagination."

Proclaimed Peter Burwasser of Fanfare Magazine: "Fletcher plays it all with a gracious virtuosity that makes for a very pleasing hour plus of unaffected musical poetry."

Listing Information:
WHEN: Saturday, April 16 at 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St, Racine, WI
FREE ADMISSION