The Ida Presti and Alexandre Lagoya duo was the hub of guitar music in the 1950s and 60s Paris. The energy of this collaboration radiated throughout the music community, resulting in a multitude of new works for guitar duo. Stein-Erik Olsen and Egil Haugland are outstanding interpreters of the music from the golden age of the guitar.
Among the best things written for guitar duo
Stein-Erik Olsen finds the quality of these works quite special: “It is simply masterpieces, all of it – without question among the best ever written for guitar duo. All the works on the album are written within the span of six years by composers who have their individual style and musical vocabulary. You immediately hear that these works are written for two equal performers with outstanding technical and musical abilities.” Graham Wade has written liner notes for the release.
Stein-Erik Olsen and Egil Haugland
Two very experienced guitarists have teamed up again for this project – the first time they performed together was in the mid-eighties. “A fundamental aspect in our way of playing is the joy of making music and emphasising musical intuition, creativity and fantasy. We allow certain differences in our musical dialogue by allowing different articulation and sonorities as a part of the artistic expression.” Olsen has a long list of album releases, including collaborations with such prestigious orchestras as the St Martin in the Fields. Haugland is also a luthier and has numerous recordings as soloist and chamber musician.
