José Antonio Escobar: Reviews

"... I rarely have the opportunity to listen to someone so well prepared, whose every note is played with soul, sincerity, love and musical intelligence."

The first time I heard José Antonio Escobar was at the International Guitar Competition in Alessandria (Italy) in 2003. There, I got to know him as a guitarist with extraordinary abilities. Even more important to me seems the fact, though, that he unites – besides his virtuosity and sense of sound – all the virtues in his play, which are nowadays so hard to find on the guitar: A musical expressiveness, which always lends itself to the content of a composition. The truthfulness of the musical presentation of his interpretations are so extraordinary that I would like to call José Antonio Escobar an exceptional musician. Musical intensity, the composition/arrangement of large phrasings, a sense for complex architectural structures, variability of sound, and the necessary technical ability for all this - to be able to choose tempi freely: All these are parameter, which are being expressed in his performance very naturally. In December 2006, I had the pleasure to hear José Antonio Escobar again during the “Darmstädter Gitarrentage” (Guitar Days in Darmstadt), this time for a sonata evening (with works of José, Ginastera, and Brouwer). During this concert, my impressions from 2003 were not only confirmed but it also became evident that his musical potential has further evolved in the most wonderful way. José Antonio Escobar represents his instrument in the music world in a very dignified way. I wish him all the success that this great musician and guitarist deserves.

"... a brilliant technique that has always been directed by his musical intellect, as well as his great personality as an interpreter."