PRESS

 

Classical guitarist Jonathan Prag is a Fringe stalwart, and his solo recital feels like a cool breeze of sanity amid the Edinburgh mayhem. Prag … delivers a wide-ranging programme from O' Carolan through to Nikita Koshkin. But it's the quiet authority with which he plays and his natural unforced musicality, that mark his show out. He …picks out voices sensitively in a rippling Bach Fugue and Allegro. His command of tone and colour is impressive in Barrios's 'La Catedral', especially a beautifully fluid transition into ringing harmonics… Koshkin’s fiery ‘Usher Waltz’ (is) most impressive, slowly fracturing and disintegrating into a piquant waltz tune … and drawing Prag’s most extrovert performance… there’s no doubting his technical dexterity nor his intense focus, and he has an easy, natural way of talking to his audience.

 [David Kettle, The Scotsman]

 

‘…wonderfully textured and expressive... Prag’s technique is close to flawless.’ 

James McNamara [Broadway Baby]

 

‘An intimate setting and superb classical guitarist, filling the room with music that at times carried me away – it was bliss… a guitar alive with warmth and seemingly a part of the musician’s body – it was a privilege to be a part of such an exquisite experience.’ 

Heather-Jean Moyes [Kryztoff RAW-Adelaide]

‘Deftly handling the complex arrangements, he renders Irish folk songs richly emotional, explores crisp classical movements and closes this intimate set with a fiery and frankly brilliant flamenco. Like the composers he admires, Prag draws on deep traditions and diverse styles to make exquisite, intricate music.’  [Dave Fargnoli, Three Weeks]

 ‘…the quality of his performances mark him out as one the Fringe’s finest musicians...This was a gripping performance … his rendition of the Staten Island Hornpipe had toes tapping throughout the hall and his version of Bela Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances held the rapt attention of the entire audience.’ [Alex Wood, Lothian Life]

'Classical Guitar 'n Stuff ' interview with Jonathan Prag 

UK Classical Guitarist, Jonathan Prag, at the Adelaide Fringe
Jonathan Prag had a busy year in 2013, touring the UK before returning to the Edinburgh Fringe and the atmospheric C Too (church) venue at St Columba's by the Castle. He has set his sights on the wider world this year however, and for the first time, will appear at the Adelaide Fringe. Jonathan is known for taking his audience on a journey through some of the world's most beautiful music. In this programme, two Scottish folk songs get the classical guitar treatment and we hear Bach, Lauro, Satie and Gershwin. This is a friendly performer, who sets the audience at ease by his ability to provide just the right linking comments...CONTINUE  READING

 ‘..Prag has an impressive technical command … bringing a fine sense of drama to an Astor Piazzolla tango.’  [Rob Adams Glasgow Herald]

 

‘...Entertaining and exciting’ – [Classical Guitar]

 

‘Listening to Jonathan Prag from the UK, play a wide range of works for his instrument, three things came through: beautiful sound, exquisite tone and the care with which Prag fingers his instrument in the pieces performed … he has functioned outstandingly at his first appearance at the Toronto Fringe. Playing works by Bach, Barrios, Garay, Koshkin, Lindsey-Clark, Marsh, and Sear, he covered a wide range of music demonstrating the potentials of the classical guitar. Of particular note were his presentations of the Prelude to J.S Bach’s Lute suite, Sindo Garay’s Cuban Boleros, and music of the great Paraguayan guitarist, Agustin Barrios.’ 

[R. Avrum Ontario Arts Review]

‘Wonderful… the combination of melody, rhythm and harmony is truly satisfying.’ [The Scotsman]

 

‘Jonathan Prag’s lunchtime guitar recital was a quiet gem; the gently restorative effect of beautiful, well-played music… (he) had put together a seriously interesting programme… the final work, Albeniz’s evocative Asturias, had all the self-assured flamboyance that flamenco music requires. Absolutely recommended.’ [The Herald]

 

‘The most memorable part in the programme was Peter Maxwell Davies’s poignant, lyrical Farewell to Stromness. This was played by Prag with a quiet intensity that magnified its haunting effect.’ 

[The Herald]

 

‘Memorable sensitivity and verve…’ [Perthshire Advertiser]

 

‘Unburden yourself of your worries and enjoy an hour of total escapism. Jonathan’s laid back style puts the audience completely at ease. His dreamy melodies bring about a sense of calm that settles upon everyone present.  Easy on the ear, totally chilled out and very highly recommended’ 

[Pick of the Day - Three Weeks Daily Edition]

 

‘Driving bass lines and animated finger work boasted the range of Prag’s abilities.’ 
[Martin Parker The Scotsman]

 

‘Jonathan, appearing at the Café Royal, has been voted Pick of the Fringe by Three Weeks Daily, the Edinburgh Fringe newspaper… his agent said: “I’m delighted for him. It’s an outstanding achievement. He’s a wonderful performer, always in demand because he presents classical guitar so brilliantly.”’ [Southern Evening Echo]

 

  Three Weeks  in-depth interview with Jonathan Prag:

‘Jonathan Prag has been delighting Fringe crowds with his classical guitar recitals for many years now, as well as earning wholehearted approval from a number of our reviewers. So we felt it was high time we found out more about his work, his shows, and what keeps him coming back to the Fringe...’ CONTINUE READING