Examples of well known Virtuosi over time. Top Row - From left: Frédéric Chopin, Niccolò Paganini, Franz Liszt, Luigi Boccherini. Bottom Row - From left: Arthur Rubinstein, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman.

A virtuoso (from Italian virtuoso, Late Latin virtuosus, Latin virtus meaning: skill, manliness, excellence) is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability in the fine arts, at singing or playing a musical instrument.^[1] The plural form is either virtuosi or the Anglicisation, virtuosos, and the feminine form sometimes used is virtuosa. Virtuosi are often musical composers as well. During the age of Baroque music many composers were also virtuosi on their respective instruments.^{[citation needed]}

Virtuosity defined[link]

Music in the Western civilization by Piero Weiss and Richard Taruskin gives the following definition of virtuoso:^[2]

"...a virtuoso was, originally, a highly accomplished musician, but by the nineteenth century the term had become restricted to performers, both vocal and instrumental, whose technical accomplishments were so pronounced as to dazzle the public."

The defining element of virtuosity is the performance ability of the musician in question, who is capable of displaying feats of skill well above the average performer. Musicians focused on virtuosity are commonly^[vague] criticized for overlooking substance and emotion in favor of raw technical prowess. Despite the mechanical aspects of virtuosity, many virtuosi successfully avoid such labels^[vague]. Once^[vague] more commonly applied in the context of the fine arts, the term has since evolved^{[citation needed]} and can now also simply mean a 'master' or 'ace' who excels technically within a particular field or area of human knowledge—anyone especially or dazzlingly skilled at what they do.^[1]

The Italian term "virtuoso" was also once commonly used to describe the group of emerging ballistic experts, engineers, artillerists, and specialists in mechanics and dynamics that arose during the late 17th century in response to the spreading use of gunpowder in Europe.^{[citation needed]}

History[link]

The meaning of virtuoso has its roots in the Italian usage of the 16th and 17th centuries, signifying an honorific term reserved for a person distinguished in any intellectual or artistic field. The term evolved with time, simultaneously broadening and narrowing in scope as interpretations went in and out of fashion and debates unravel. Originally a musician was honored the classification by being a composer, theorist or famous maestro, more importantly than being a skilled performer.^[3]

The 17th and 18th centuries saw a bastardization of the term, which started being self indulged by a great number of musicians, without considerations of merit. Sébastien de Brossard in his Dictionaire de Musique (Paris, 1703)^[4][5] approached the word virtuoso by its Latin root virtu emphasizing exceptional training, especially in theory. This position was also defended in Johann Gottfried Walther's Musicalisches Lexicon (1732) favoring the theorist over the performer. Johan Matthenson's Der brauchbare Virtuoso^[6] (1720) maintained the respect for the traditional "theoretische Virtuosen" (virtuoso theoretical) but also paid tribute to the "virtuosi prattici" (performer virtuoso).

Johann Kuhnau in his The Musical Charlatan (Der musikalische Quack-Salber, 1700) defined the "true virtuoso" once again emphasizing theory ("der wahre Virtuose") describing the "highly gifted musician" ("der glückselige Musicus") or "performer virtuoso" as having nothing more than practical facility.

In the late 18th century the term started to be used to describe the musician, instrumentalist or vocalist, who pursued a career as a soloist. The tension about the merit of practical virtuosity started to grow at the same time and intensified in the 19th century, only to remain an open debate since then. Franz Liszt declared that "virtuosity is not an outgrowth, but an indispensable element of music" (Gesammelte Schriften, iv, 1855–9). Richard Wagner opposed the triviality and exhibitionist talents of the performer voicing his opinion strongly: "The real dignity of the virtuoso rests solely on the dignity he is able to preserve for creative art; if he trifles and toys with this, he casts his honour away. He is the intermediary of the artistic idea" (Gesammelte Schriften; English translation, vii, 1894–9, p. 112). Pejorative connotations started in this epoch exemplified by new German expressions such as "Virtuosenmachwerk" (piece of routine display). "Pultvirtuoso" (conductor with virtuoso qualities), on the other hand, is not pejorative, but complimentary.

References[link]

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Lawson Rollins (born c. 1970) is an American guitarist and composer from North Carolina^[1] noted for his lightning-fast speed solos, virtuoso fingerstyle technique, and melodic compositional skills featured in his recordings.^[2] His music spans a wide range of genres but is generally classed as Latin Jazz and World Music, with elements of Samba, Bossanova, Middle Eastern music, Classical guitar, Flamenco and Shred guitar added to the mix.

He is best known for his compositions The Fire Cadenza, Santa Ana Wind and Moonlight Samba and his albums Infinita and Espirito which were both critically acclaimed by the jazz community.^[3][4][5] He has reached a wide audience on both radio and the internet. Video performances of The Fire Cadenza and Santa Ana Wind have been viewed millions of times on Youtube.^[6] His songs Moonlight Samba, Infinita, and Havana Heat have proven popular on jazz radio stations and landed on the Billboard radio charts.^[7][8][9]

Influenced by Andres Segovia from his mid-teens, he developed an interest in Jazz, Flamenco, and improvisational Latin and Brazilian guitar styles in his early twenties.^[10][11] After graduating from Duke University he earned a graduate degree from the London School of Economics, then moved to Washington, D.C. in 1998 where he met guitarist Daniel Young (Dan Young) at a local flamenco shop and formed the Latin guitar fusion group Young & Rollins.^[11] They released several albums together, including Salsa Flamenca, which landed on the Billboard Chart in 2000, Sevilla (2001), Esperanza (2005) and Mosaic (2006) and played at many major venues such as the Kennedy Center and Sydney Opera House. Rollins was based in Washington until 2007 when he moved to San Francisco.^[11]

His three solo albums Infinita, Espirito, and Elevation, are characterized by an eclectic mix of Middle Eastern, Brazilian, and Arabic music fused with Spanish guitar and backed by an all-star cast of musicians from around the world including Brazilian singer Flora Purim, percussionist Airto Moreira, Cuban drummer Horacio Hernandez, Shahin Shahida of Shahin and Sepehr, Iranian kamancheh player Kayhan Kalhor, Grammy-winning violinist Charlie Bisharat, and electric guitarist Buckethead, among others.^[1][12][11]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

As solo artist:

• Elevation
• Espirito Review at AMG
• Infinita Review at AMG

As part of Young & Rollins

• Salsa Flamenca
• Sevilla
• Esperanza
• Mosaic

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official site
• The All Music Guide

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David Phelps
David Phelps, left
Background information
Birth name	David Norris Phelps
Born	(1969-10-21) October 21, 1969 (age 42) Texas, United States
Genres	Southern gospel, Christian
Occupations	Musician, singer
Instruments	Vocals, piano
Years active	1994–present
Labels	Springhill Music Word Entertainment
Associated acts	The Gaither Vocal Band
Website	davidphelps.com

David Norris Phelps (born October 21, 1969) is an American Christian vocalist, songwriter and vocal arranger, who is best known for singing tenor in the Gaither Vocal Band.^[1] He has also released several solo albums, including four Christmas collections. On January 13, 2008, Phelps appeared on Extreme Makeover Home Edition for the Woodhouse family.

Biography[link]

David Phelps was born in Texas, to Gene and Mary Ella Phelps. Gene is a former accountant/banker who currently teaches business and finance at a college in Houston. Mary Ella is a retired English Professor. He has two older sisters, Sherri Proctor (who sings backup vocals for him when he tours) and Kari Lee (a professional trumpeter who tours with the Chicago-based Millar Brass Ensemble.)

Phelps grew up in Tomball, Texas near Houston and graduated from Tomball High School in 1988. He attended Baylor University, (where he directed the Baylor Religious Hour Choir) graduating in 1992 with a degree in music and vocal performance.

Phelps is a lyric tenor whose trademark is his large range, featuring an ability to sing in a high tessitura for sustained periods. Live recordings, whether by himself or with the Gaithers, indicate he has more than a three octave full voice range. In the first verse of "Just as I Am", from the album Revelation, Phelps sings an E2. This is attested by live performances. During a performance of "When God Dips His Love in My Heart", he ably sings an F5, full voice, and sustains it for a significant period of time. During his time with the Gaither Vocal Band, his high tessitura was employed often. He was introduced to Bill Gaither by Mark Lowry, who was (and is now again) the baritone in the group. Lowry brought Gaither a tape of Phelps. During a performance of "Let Freedom Ring" (originally recorded on their God Is Good CD), he ably sings an Db5 in full voice. In Studio his highest note ever is a C#6 the Soprano High C#6.^{[citation needed]}

Phelps is once again, since approximately January 13, 2009, part of the Gaither Vocal Band. He is sharing the tenor part with Wes Hampton.

Personal life[link]

David's wife is Lori Purtle Phelps (also born on October 21, 1969); together the two have four children: Callie Noelle (born 1995), Maggie Beth (born 1997), David Grant (born 2000) and Coby Daniel (born 2004). Callie, Maggie Beth and Grant can be seen on the Gaither Homecoming videos Christmas in the Country and A Time for Joy. The Phelps Family currently resides south of Nashville, Tennessee.^{[citation needed]}

Discography[link]

Solo Albums[link]

Compilations[link]

• 2009: The Best of David Phelps (Word)

With the Gaither Vocal Band[link]

• 1998: Still the Greatest Story Ever Told
• 1999: God Is Good
• 2001: I Do Believe
• 2002: Everything Good
• 2003: A Capella (producer/arranger)
• 2004: Best of the Gaither Vocal Band
• 2009: Reunion Vol. 1 & 2 (LIVE)
• 2009: Reunited
• 2010: Better Day [LIVE]
• 2010: Greatly Blessed
• 2011: I Am a Promise

Appearances on other albums[link]

• 1998: In My Life, Larry Gatlin (Spring House) (background)
• 1999: Within Old Pages, Walt Mills (Homeland Records) (background)
• 2000: Lordsong, Lordsong (Daywind) "Trial of the Heart" (background)
• 2001: Lauren Talley (Horizon) "The Prayer" (duet)
• 2001: Mark Lowry On Broadway (Spring Hill) "A Whole New World" (duet with Sandi Patty)
• 2001: Pursuing His Presence, The God Chasers (Spring Hill) "Completely Yours" (solo)
• 2006: The Nativity Story: Sacred Songs, Various (Watertower Music) "The Virgin's Lullaby" (Background)
• 2009: Let Go, Sheila Walsh (Spring Hill) "The Prayer" (duet)
• 2009: In All I Do, Paid In Full, "Because I Love Him" (solo)
• 2010: Love Will Find A Way, Steve Green, "God Is Love" (background)

Video[link]

Solo[link]

• 2006: Legacy of Love [LIVE]
• 2007: No More Night: David Phelps Live in Birmingham
• 2008: O Holy Night
• 2010: Christmas With David Phelps

With the Gaither Vocal Band[link]

• 1998: Hawaiian Homecoming
• 2001: I Do Believe
• 2003: Australian Homecoming
• 2009: Reunion Volumes 1 & 2
• 2010: Reunited
• 2010: Better Day

Gaither Homecoming Video featured performances[link]

• 1998: Kennedy Center Homecoming "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"
• 1998: All Day Singin' at the Dome "I'll Fly Away"
• 1998: Atlanta Homecoming "What a Meeting in the Air", "Jesus Saves"
• 2000: Good News "I'm Free", "What A Meeting in the Air"
• 2001: A Billy Graham Music Homecoming - Volume 2 "It is Well with My Soul"
• 2001: Mark Lowry On Broadway "A Whole New World"
• 2002: Freedom Band "Worthy the Lamb"
• 2002: I'll Fly Away "I'll Fly Away", "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"
• 2002: God Bless America "The End of the Beginning", "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"
• 2003: Heaven "No More Night", "What a Day That Will Be"
• 2004: A Tribute to Jake Hess "Sweeter as the Days Go By"
• 2004: Passin' the Faith Along "I Can't Even Walk"
• 2005: So Glad "Bein' Happy"
• 2006: Harmony in the Heartland "The Lifeboat"
• 2007: How Great Thou Art "There is a Fountain Filled with Blood"
• 2008: Rock of Ages "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"
• 2011: The Best of David Phelps
• 2011: Alaskan Homecoming "America, the Beautiful"
• 2011: Majesty, "Sunday School Medley", "His Eye Is On The Sparrow"

References[link]

External links[link]

• David Phelps at Allmusic
• Official website
• "When God Dips His Love" video

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Lola Astanova (Russian: Лола Астанова, born 1985 in Tashkent, former USSR) is a Soviet-born pianist, noted for her interpretations of compositions by Chopin, Liszt and Rachmaninoff.

Career[link]

At the age of six Astanova entered the V. Uspensky Specialized School of Music for Gifted Children, an elite school where she started studying piano under Professor Tamara Popovich. She frequently visited Moscow, studying at the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory for lessons with Professor Lev Naumov^[1], who noted Astanova's ability as a "rare and truly ingenious" pianist, adding that "Chopin performed by Lola is simply outstanding."^[2]

Astanova started touring as a concert pianist at the age of eight. She performed in Germany, France, Austria, Italy and Russia in both solo programs and performances with orchestras. She was a laureate of the 1996 International Chopin Competition for Young Pianists in Moscow. In 1998, she was featured in the UNESCO documentary "Prodigies of the 20th Century". In 2003, she emigrated to the United States. Astanova had her US debut in 2004 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.^[3]

Lola Astanova (right) with Meredith Vieira on the Today Show

Astanova became a star of the October 2007 Classical Superstars Fantasy Concert alongside Valery Gergiev and Kirov Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater, hosted by renowned television personality Regis Philbin. The concert was featured in the 100th anniversary issue of the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book and offered for $1.6 million.^[4][5] In August 2008, The National September 11 Memorial & Museum announced Ms. Astanova's historical performance on the famed Steinway concert grand piano of Vladimir Horowitz at the "Notes of Hope" benefit hosted by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.^[6][7] The event included performances by comedian & actor Denis Leary and rock musician John Mellencamp.

On January 19, 2012 Astanova made her Carnegie Hall debut^[8], a special Tribute to Horowitz as a gala concert chaired by Donald Trump and hosted by Julie Andrews^[9]. Pianist Byron Janis was among the concert's attendees^[10]. All proceeds from the performance were donated to the American Cancer Society^[11]. In March 2012, Astanova appeared on the cover of Palm Beach Society magazine ahead of her performance with Jahja Ling at the Kravis Center.^[12] She has recently been invited by Byron Janis to perform at a Janis' Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony at the Walter Reade Theater in Lincoln Center, awarded by the Yamaha Music and Wellness Institute, on May 30, 2012.^[13]

Performance[link]

Astanova has been the center of attention for her performance style and appearance, often wearing high-heels and sporting unique and often glamorous fashion. She is known for outwardly expressing beauty both in attire and playing, and has stated that she chooses clothing items that "reflect her personality"^[14], also criticizing the stereotypes normally attributed to female pianists and classical musicians in general.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Website of Lola Astanova
• Official YouTube channel
• Blog, "Only Words to Play With..."
• October 2009 Interview with Lola Astanova
• Интервью с Лолой Астановой, блистательной пианисткой и настоящей красавицей. Эксклюзивное интервью для RUNYweb.com
• Все, что захочет Лола... Дебют Лолы Астановой в Карнеги Холле.
• Лола Астанова: «Играть по правилам – скучно». Интервью для Энциклопедии Русской Америки

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Dimitri Illarionov (born 1979) is a Russian classical guitarist. In 2002, Illarionov won the Guitar Foundation of America International Solo Competition.^[1]

Music career[link]

Education[link]

In 1997, Illarionov graduated with honours from the Academic Music College at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. He then studied at the Russian Gnesins's Academy of Music with Professor Alexander Frauchi. In 2002, Illarionov graduated from the Academy cum laude. He also took lessons with the Russian composer and guitarist Nikita Koshkin; masterclasses with such prominent musicians as guitarists Carlo Marchione and Roberto Aussell, lutenist Hopkinson Smith and cellist David Geringas. Between 2002 and 2004, Illarionov was an assistant to Professor Frauchi. Illarionov currently teaches his own class in the Academy.

Competitions[link]

Illarionov is the winner and laureate of numerous international competitions in the USA, Spain, Poland, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Russia. These include the Grand Prix in the VI International Promotional Competition "Guitar Talents' Review" (Gdańsk, Poland - 1999) and the title of "The Greatest Hope" in the "Tenth Gdańsk Meeting of Guitarists"; First Prize and Prize of Public in the VIII International Guitar Competition in Coria (Spain - 2004); First Prize in the Russian International Guitar Competition - "Guitar in Russia" in Voronezh (Russia - 2002).

Illarionov was the first guitarist to take Second Prize in the III International Competition of Musical Personalities "Alexander Tansman" (Łódź, Poland - 2000). Piano, violin, cello, guitar and other instruments compete directly with each other in this competition, and Illarionov's success there made him the highest-placed guitarist ever in the Tansman competition. In October 2002, Illarionov won The Twentieth International Guitar Foundation of America Solo Guitar Competition (GFA – Miami, Florida, USA). As part of the prize, he conducted his concert tour (in the USA and Canada) and will record a concert video. Besides guitar competition, Illarionov is a laureate of composing and conducting competitions.

Performances[link]

Illarionov has an active concert life, playing solo recitals and performing as soloist with orchestras. He has played with such orchestras as the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia, the State Symphony Orchestra "New Russia", the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, the Irkutsk Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra (Russia), the Moscow Chamber "The Seasons" Orchestra (Russia), the National Chamber Orchestra of Moldova and the Wuppertal Plucked Orchestra (Germany). In addition to numerous appearances in Russia, he has performed in Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Estonia, Poland, Italy, Germany, USA, Canada and Japan. He has played in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, the Osaka Symphony Hall, and the Hall of Columns of the National Philharmonic Society (Kiev, Ukraine). He appeared at the Festival of Russian Culture (Los Angeles, California, USA, 2004), at the opening ceremony of the 49th International Book Fair (Warsaw, Poland, 2004), and at the guitar in Nürtingen, in 2002.

Works[link]

Illarionov's repertoire is broad and versatile. It ranges across various periods and styles: music of the Renaissance and Baroque (Luis Milan, Alonso Mudarra, John Dowland, J. S. Bach), original music for guitar from the 19th and early 20th centuries (Fernando Sor, Mauro Giuliani, Francisco Tárrega), and music of the 20th and 21st centuries (Frank Martin, Alexandre Tansman, Manuel Ponce, Joaquín Rodrigo, Joaquín Turina, Agustín Barrios, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, William Walton, Sérgio Assad, Roland Dyens, Dusan Bogdanovic, Angelo Gilardino, the unique cycle 24 Preludes and Fugues for Solo Guitar by Igor Rekhin), as well as compositions for guitar with orchestra and chamber music.

Dimitri Illarionov has recorded the CD Premieres with the Moscow Chamber "The Seasons" Orchestra (conductor – Vladislav Bulakhov) for Les Éditions Doberman-Yppan; two solo CDs: by Naxos Records (Laureate Series) and the CD East Side Story (Daminus Records) with music written by modern Eastern European composers. Illarionov's Classical Duo CD (Delos Records) with Russian cellist Boris Andrianov entered the pre-short-list of the 2004 Grammy Awards.

See also[link]

• International classical guitar competitions

References[link]

External links[link]

• Dmitry Illarionov's web site
• Dmitry Illarionov's blog

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