Ali Jorge ArangoCuban prize-winning guitarist Ali Jorge Arango will be performing works by Chopin, Bach, Tárrega and many more this week in Valletta.
Arango is one of the most prominent guitarists of his generation. With a virtuosity at the service of musicality and a balanced mix of subtlety and expressive force, he has conquered all types of audiences and juries.
He graduated from the conservatory Amadeo Rodán in Havana, Cuba, in 2001.
Arango has played extensively in Catalonia and when only 19, toured throughout Cuba with the National Symphony Orchestra invited by Leo Brouwer, interpreting the Concierto de Aranjuez.
He made the world premiere performance of three of Brouwer’s works: Paisaje Cubano con Tristeza (for guitar), Gismontiana (for four guitars and a string orchestra) and No. 1 Series of Danzas Rituales y Festivas (for guitar).
He has performed as a soloist accompanied by orchestra interpreting: Concert No. 3 Elegíaco by Leo Brouwer, Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo, Concert for Guitar and Orchestra by Mario Castelnuovo Tedesco, Concertino for Guitar and Orchestra by Salvador Bacarisse and Concert for Guitar and Orchestra by Heitor Villa-Lobos.
As a composer Arango has created works for guitar, duets for guitar and other instruments, chamber formats, and music for audio visuals, and documentaries.
At present he forms part of Pyrophorus Guitar Duo and Traza Quartet. With original music written for these two formats, Arango explores the fusion between Cuban music, jazz and contemporary music.
Ali Jorge Arango will be performing today and on Monday, July 31 at Our Lady of Victories church in Valletta at 8pm; and on Saturday, July 29 at the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Valletta at 8pm.