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Bath Guitar Festival is back for 2024, and this year's classical concert line-up features some of the most celebrated guitarists: Irina Kulikova, Judicaël Perroy, and Laura Snowden, plus the flute and guitar duo of Francisco Correa and Emily Andrews, and Tom Kerstens' G Plus Ensemble! IGF is also delighted to present two lunchtime concerts from talented musicians from their Young Artist Platform!

Tues 13 Aug, 7:30pm - Emily Andrews and Francisco Correa:
Colombian guitarist Francisco Correa, acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic for his "Eloquence" and "expressive playing", will be joined by English flautist and mezzo-soprano
Emily Andrews – "a natural musician with astonishing dexterity and an unusually wide range of tone colours" – for this evening concert to open the IGF Bath Summer School 2024.
Like the duo itself, the programme mixes Colombian and British music, exploring the full range of colours, rhythms, and emotions from both sides of the Atlantic. Expect haunting, rhythmic and melodic Colombian folk songs, Colombian classical music which draws on these folk influences, and music by British composer Stephen Goss which takes inspiration from Latin American and British folk music.
Emily and Francisco have recently recorded Stephen Goss's complete works for flute and guitar, on a CD called 'Catedral' which is due to come out in February 2025 under the Deux-Elles label.

Weds 14 Aug, 7:30pm - Irina Kulikova
Widely acclaimed for the rare beauty of her sound and her enchanting presence on stage, Irina Kulikova has established herself as one of today's leading guitarists. She tours far afield, with appearances at major festivals in Europe, North America and Asia and in concert halls such as the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, the Palau de la Musica in Valencia, the Musashino Hall in Tokyo and the Oriental Arts Centre in Shanghai.
Look forward to a programme that includes works by Stephen Goss, Vincent Lynsey-Clark, Kevin Callahan, Bach ,Tarrega, Albéniz, Chopin, Erik Satie, L. Legnani, and Schubert.

Thurs 15 Aug, 7:30pm - Laura Snowden and Tom Kerstens' G Plus Ensemble:
Laura Snowden is one of the most sought after guitarists, teachers and composers of the younger generation. She was described by Classical Guitar Magazine as 'linking guitar's past, present and future', her eclectic musical output has ranged from playing on Lorne Balfe's soundtrack for Marvel film Black Widow to recording Lisa Streich's guitar concerto Augenlider with the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin. Laura's eclectic repertoire comprises classical, folk and contemporary music, with storytelling at its heart. Her programme will feature classical works alongside her own evocative compositions, unique vocalisations, and Celtic folk arrangements.

Tom Kerstens is a major figure in the guitar world. He is highly regarded as a versatile performer on modern and period instruments and is an influential champion of the guitar in his roles as player, recording artist and artistic director. He was chosen in Classic FM's list of the '100 best classical artists' and 'Five best guitarists world-wide' whilst hailed as a 'refreshing musical explorer'. His G Plus Ensemble consists of one or two guitars, string quartet and percussion and is exclusively dedicated to new music.
This exciting programme features the world premieres of two new pieces by Bobbie-Jane Gardner and John Metcalfe, as well as other IGF commissions by Laura Snowden, Joby Talbot, Joe Cutler, and Leo Brouwer.

Fri 16 Aug, 7:30pm - Judicaël Perroy
Judicaël Perroy began playing the guitar at the age of 7 and at 11 he started giving concerts. He continued his studies with Roberto Aussell and at the École Normale de Musique de Paris in Alberto Ponce's class in 1994; in 1996, he won the 1st prize at the National Conservatory of Music and Dance of Paris (CNSMDP). He has recorded ten albums, two of which were dedicated to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach as well as one featuring Manuel Maria Ponce (Naxos). Programme highlights for this evening concert include music by Bach, Tchaikovsky, Dusan Bogdanovic, Alexandre Scriabin, Alexandre Tansman, Enrique Granados, Albéniz, and Piazzolla.