José Antonio Escobar

José Antonio Escobar (Santiago de Chile, 1973) is among the most outstanding guitarists of the new generation. He started studying classical guitar at 15 years old, under the distinguished Guitar Master Ernesto Quezada at the School of Arts , University of Chile , and he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He received a scholarship from the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a Meister Klasse at the Hochschule F ü r Musik in Augsburg , Germany with Franz Halász, a renowned German guitarist. He has had master classes with major musicians such as Alirio Díaz, John Williams, Abel Carlevaro, Eliot Fisk, and Hopkinson Smith. He has received more than fifteen awards at international classical guitar events. The most important awards obtained include : First Prize (Second Prize unawarded) at the Certamen Internacional de Guitarra Julian Arcas, Almería , Spain (2003). First Prize at the Stotsenberg International Guitar Competition, California , USA (2001). First Prize and Audience Prize, at the prestigious Certamen Internacional de Guitarra Francisco Tárrega, Benicassim , Spain (2000). First Prize at the Alirio Díaz International Guitar Competition, Caracas (1998). First Prize at the Heitor Villa–Lobos International Guitar Competition, Rio de Janeiro (1997). He has been invited to play as a soloist by more than 20 countries in Europe , North and South America , the Middle East and Africa . He has played with the Symphony Orchestra of Torino, the Mediterranean Symphony Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra of Spain, the Oviedo Chamber Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra of Chile. He recorded his first compact disc for the well-known Naxos label, receiving an outstanding international acclaim by specialized publications. He recorded a live perfomance for RTVE (Spanish Radio and Television) of the Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo, which was broadcast internationally to various European countries. Distinguished Chilean composers such as Juan Antonio Sánchez, Javier Farías and Christian Vásquez have dedicated his works to him, some of which have been recorded, and have received awards worldwide. He has worked as Guitar and Chamber Music University Professor at the Hochschule Für Musik in Nuremberg - Augsburg, Germany, at the Conservatory of Music, Universidad Austral de Chile, and at the Conservatory of Music, Universidad Mayor in Santiago, Chile. He has given Master Classes in Germany , Finland , Norway , Morocco , the Canary Islands , Lebanon , and Chile .

ANTONIO JOSé (España, 1902-1936) Sonata (1933)

1 I Allegro moderato 6'25
2 II Minueto 4'38
3 III Pavana triste 5'07

4 IV Final 4'41

LEO BROUWER (Cuba, 1939)
Sonata (1990)

5 I Fandangos y boleros 6'24
6 II Sarabanda de Scriabin 3'21
7 III La Toccata de Pasquini 4'29

ALBERTO GINASTERA (Argentina, 1913-1983)
Sonata Op. 47 (1976)

8 I Esordio 4'02
9 II Scherzo 3'05
10 III Canto 4'04
11 IV Finale 2'37

JAVIER FARÍAS (Chile, 1973)
Sonata (2004)

12 I Proemio 2'18
13 II Desaira 4'28
14 III Axial 6'58
15 IV Asedia 4'31

Total playing time: 67'15"
CD price: 10,00€

Tracks 1-11 recorded by John Taylor in Holy Trinity Church, Weston, Hertfordshire, England, 19-22 September 2004.

Tracks 12-15 recorded by Juan Pablo Quezada at Santuario Sonico, Chile, 7 January 2005.