A Soulful
and Passionate Performer
“Ensconced at the center of the stage, holding his 10-string guitar,
classical guitarist Perfecto De Castro gave everyone in the theater a high
(through his playing) .....” -
The Manila Times
Hailed as one of the best Filipino guitarists, Perfecto De
Castro now takes his career to the World Stage, enrapturing audiences with his
adventurous programming of multi-cultural music.
“An artist of quality and integrity with very refined interpretations”
-
Janet Marlow, Director 1st
International Ten String Festival
“One of the best guitarists we have today”
-
Josefino Chino Toledo,
Filipino Composer-Conductor
At the core of his repertoire, lies the rich and appealing
blend of Eastern and Western musical influences. From the simplistic beauty of
indigenous Ethnic melodies, challenging rhythms of Folk dances, to
Spanish-flavored Art Songs and contemporary fusion of all aforementioned
elements.
“Personally, the second half of Perfecto’s recital
was my favorite. I particularly enjoyed the four Filipino pieces. It seems those
places where many cultures meet (or clash) often produce the most beautiful and
unique music. I heard echoes of
Polynesia, Indonesia and Europe in these beautiful pieces. This was my first
introduction to Filipino music; I was surprised at the deep and varied roots of
the music. Each piece was uniquely beautiful, and each very different from the
other.”
- Chris
Volak, GSI Classical Guitar Forum
The Laudarra, or the Ten String Classical Guitar, is
Perfecto’s instrument of choice. Its wider musical range and colorful sonority
transforms each piece and presents them in a different light. The musical
potential of compositions, transcriptions and arrangements are less hindered by
the traditional guitar’s limitations.
“I had the pleasure of watching Perfecto De Castro's live recital DVD last
night. His use of the 10 string guitar was very fluid and clean.
I've often felt that 10 string guitarists were switching from Bass to Treble
parts within a piece to the detriment of the composers intention. Whereas,
Perfecto was able to integrate the extremes of the instrument’s register to
convey the music beautifully.”
-
Stephen Marchione, luthier, Austin TX
Perfecto collaborates with composers all over the world to
add to the repertoire of the Ten String Guitar. To date he has received new
works from Spain, the UK, Italy, the USA and the Philippines; most of which name
him as the dedicatee.
“Both Perfecto De Castro and Rohan Leach are to be commended for bringing
such a beautiful composition and performance (Sylph Dance) to the 10-string
world!”
- Steven
Bastien, 10String
Mailing List
A graduate of the PWU School of Music, Perfecto studied
with one of the Philippines’ best guitar pedagogues, Maestro Jose Valdez, and
has since augmented his guitar studies through lessons and masterclasses taught
by some of the world’s best guitarists and teachers: Angelito Agcaoili, Michael
Dadap, Paul Galbraith, Tilman
Hoppstock, Scott Kritzer, Jonathan
Leathwood, Janet Marlow, Jorge Orozco
and James Smith.
Along with solo guitar performances, Perfecto has performed
with the Metro Manila Community Orchestra and the Philippine Philharmonic
Orchestra, both as a concerto soloist and texture accompanist. He is a founding
member of the Kasilag Guitar
Quartet, whose 2004 debut CD
has received critical acclaim from Japan’s Gendai Guitar Magazine and the Guitar
Foundation of America’s Soundboard Magazine.
Perfecto De Castro’s solo 10 String Guitar CD,
“A Journey through Ten
Strings", features pieces from his programmes; from Baroque Lute Music to
Philippine Art Songs and Contemporary Ethnic Music. The CD also includes the
world premiere recording of Rohan Leach's
“Sylph Dance”, a suite written for 10 String Guitar and dedicated to Perfecto De
Castro.
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Read Reviews of Perfecto De Castro
