Great review in today's Scotsman!

I got an axciting tip-off last night from a friend who has an inside contact at The Scotsman that I was getting a review and that it was favourable. So I was up early this morning and here I am reading it at the crack of dawn... and for those who can't get hold of a copy of the paper, here it is:- 

Classical Guitar – Jonathan Prag
C Too (Venue 4) ****

Even in these early days of the festival, a simple show can feel so refreshing. Classical guitarist Jonathan Prag is a Fringe stalwart, and his daily lunchtime solo recital feels a bit like a cool breeze of sanity amid the Edinburgh mayhem. That's not to say Prag is unambitious: he delivers a wide-ranging programme journeying from music by 17^th century blind Irish harpist, Turlough O'Carolan through to a flashy showpiece from the 1980s by Russian composer Nikita Koshkin. But it's the quiet authority with which he plays and his natural unforced musicality, that mark his show out. He gives gentle but characterful accounts of two tunes by O'Carolan and picks out voices sensitively in a rippling Bach Fugue and Allegro. His command of tone colour is impressive in Barrios's 'La Catedral', especially a beautifully fluid transition into ringing harmonics, and he ends his programme with a nicely characterful 'Suite Del Recuerdos' by Jose Luis Merlin, providing poignant perspectives on the work's shifting moods and dance rhythms, put together in memory of the Disappeared of Argentina. It’s Koshkin’s fiery, Poe-inspired ‘Usher Waltz’ that’s most impressive though, slowly fracturing and disintegrating a piquant waltz tune with all manner of grotesque effects, and drawing Prag’s most extrovert performance. Elsewhere his playing can be a bit self-effacing, even undemonstrative, but there’s no doubting his technical dexterity nor his intense focus, and he has an easy, natural way of talking to his audience. For an hour of calm thoughtfulness and yes, maybe a bit of introspection, Prag offers something quite special.

[David Kettle, The Scotsman 8 Aug. 2015]

Bemusement on the Toronto Fringe

I've had a review - and it was a nice one thank goodness. But I have a sneaking suspicion that due to a concatenation of historical circumstances, classical music on the Toronto Fringe is a bit unexpected.Consider the evidence:

1.  Bemusement when you tell people what your show is
2. Press and media discussion of the Fringe referring only to theatre
3. Shows listed by venue in the Fringe Programme, rather than by art form
4. The opening sentence of my review:- ‘Classical Guitar Concert, performed by Jonathan Prag, pretty much gives it all away in the title. The show is a 45-minute concert of classical acoustic guitar pieces...'

A parade passing as I'm on the way to my venue

No-one expects a music concert on The Toronto Fringe! Music IN shows, yes -  musicals themselves, of course - but not concerts of music. Hmm. Come on then, fellow musicians - there needs to be MORE OF US!! bring your shows and join in the fun. It is definitely fun to perform at Fringe festivals like The Toronto Fringe and The Adelaide Fringe and of course, The Edinburgh fringe, I can vouch for that. 

I'm very pleased with the review. The reviewer enjoyed my concert once he got over his surprise that such a thing existed (‘I admit that at first, I thought “classical guitar” would be a bit of an oxymoron, but the arrangements sounded fresh and soothing. Bach on guitar – who knew that could be done?’ he says, at one point). 

And all hail to the audiences who have come to hear me play -  I salute you. You have coped with the unexpected and given it a whirl and then stayed after to speak to me about what a nice time you've had. Thank you - you are all brilliant!