Javier Riba has been playing my guitars since 2005 when he came to visit my workshop attracted by the copy I made of Torres’ SE 153. Last night he gave a beautiful recital at the Casa Manuel de Falla for the opening night of the International Guitar Festival of Granada. The music was beautifully played and evoked the Spain of the early 20th century. Riba always gives the audience a bit of background for each of the pieces he plays and last night was no exception. His talent as a teacher shines through in those moments. As for the programme, the Evocaciones by Antón García Abril were particularily wonderful and Falla too was excellent. For myself it was a great pleasure to have one of my guitars played on stage for the Granada festival.
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Presentation of the III International Guitar Festival of Granada
Once again a great programme for this guitar festival. The festival has always been supported by public institutions but that support is growing with each successful edition. Representatives of the University of Granada, town hall, regional government, the Alhambra and Granada orchestra are shown here. The festival kicks off on July 18. Details here.
Four guitars under way
My Torres copy in bird’s-eye maple and the Santos Hernández copy in rosewood. Pity they won’t be ready for this summer. The city will be filling up with guitarists, students, teachers, guitar-makers and concert-goers starting July 18th.
La Invencible de Antonio de Torres – my second copy
I have just finished the second copy of the great Invencible. I am known for my copies of historic instruments and I think it has a lot to do with how extremely careful I am to record and reproduce every aspect. These Invencible copies represent a new level of fidelity right down to the color of the varnish and the wood used . A copy of the original silver plaque is afixxed to the head too. Of course the interior structure and the thicknesses are exactly the same as the original. 
Poster for the Granada Guitar Festival
