Xavier Díaz-Latorre is recognised as one of the world’s leading baroque guitarists. On Friday 26th April he brings his incredible virtuosity to Ireland for the first time in a performance at the Mermaid County Wicklow Arts Centre in Bray.

The 17th century was a golden age for the guitar, and some of the greatest baroque musicians played and composed for it. Xavier Díaz-Latorre’s performance at the Mermaid will include an evocative selection of Irish and Spanish guitar music from this period, transporting listeners from the Dublin of Carolan and Swift to the palaces and taverns of Imperial Spain.

Xavier Díaz-Latorre’s programme will incorporate music by the prolific Irish harpist-composer Turlough O’Carolan (1670 – 1738) alongside very fine examples of Spanish baroque guitar music by the composer Francesc Guerau (1649 – 1722) and guitar masters Gaspar Sanz (1640 – 1710) and Santiago de Murcia ( 1673 – 1739).

Described by Early Music Review as “…breathtaking…”, Xavier Díaz-Latorre has just returned from touring Australasia and China, and his busy international performing career has also taken him to venues such as Carnegie Hall and Covent Garden. He is the guitarist/lutenist of choice for the internationally acclaimed viol player and conductor, Jordi Savall, and he has made over 40 recordings for international labels. He teaches Early Plucked String Performance and Continuo at Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya and the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, and he is a former student of the influential guitarist Oscar Ghiglia, who performed in the National Opera House, Wexford as part of a Music Network Artist Residency in 2017.

“He is not merely a virtuoso... he is an oracle receiving from the spirits of composers remembered and forgotten the concentrated essence of the Spanish guitar” Voix des Arts

Xavier Díaz-Latorre’s performance in Bray is the fifth in a series of six “Concerts at the Mermaid” curated by Musician in Residence Eamon Sweeney, as part of the Music Network Artist Residency in partnership with Wicklow County Council Arts Office and Mermaid County Wicklow Arts Centre.

The final concert in the series on Saturday 25th May will be a performance especially for babies and families with Portuguese company 'Concertos para Bébes' and guest Eamon Sweeney. More at musicnetwork.ie and mermaidartscentre.ie.

Music Network is funded by the Arts Council.

This concert is curated by Eamon Sweeney, Music Network Artist in Residence 2018/9 an initiative of Music Network in partnership with Wicklow County Council Arts Office and Mermaid County Wicklow Arts Centre.