Manu Brazo
saxophone
Claudia Gallardo
violin
Trad, Gardel, Shostakovich, Bozza, Presley, Massenet, Saint-Saëns & Matitia
Programme:
Traditional
Danny Boy
Carlos Gardel
Por una cabeza
Dmitri Shostakovich
Prelude, Gavotte (Five pieces for two violins and piano)
Eugène Bozza
Aria
Elvis Presley
Can’t Help Falling in Love
Manuel de Falla
Nana
Jules Massenet
Meditation
Camille Saint-Saëns
The Swan
Jean Matitia
Devil’s Rag
Making Music is the UK’s leading organisation for leisure-time music, with over 3,500 music groups in membership. Since its creation in 1961 its Philip and Dorothy Green Young Artists scheme (PDGYA) has helped to launch the careers of dozens of young musicians, including those of Steven Isserlis, Elizabeth Banks and Craig Ogden. It is made possible by the Philip and Dorothy Green Music Trust, which promotes young artists and composers. www.makingmusic.org.uk/pdgya
Biography:
Manu Brazo is a young Spanish saxophonist who has established himself as one of his generations most versatile young musicians. At ease on the stage he is often praised for his unique sound and virtuosity as well as having the ability to have a close and intimate relationship with his audience. He regularly mixes a musical and often technically challenging performance with anecdotes about himself or the composers.
Over the last few years Manu has been a regular recitalist at British and international music festivals such as Leeds International Concert Season, Tetbury Music Festival, Newbury Spring Festival, Aegean Arts Festival in Crete and Risor Kammermussikkfest in Norway. He has also given solo performances throughout the UK and Europe and played with the London City Orchestra, RCM Philharmonic, Orquesta Betica de Camara and Orquesta Filarmonia. In 2018 he was selected to take part in the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme where he performed at the Snape Maltings Proms conducted by Marin Alsop. Manu has also been a regular guest on BBC Radio 3 In Tune.
Last summer Manu, accompanied by pianist Bryan Evans MBE, was invited by promoters Live Nation to be the opening act for Sir Cliff Richard at Greenwich Music Time Festival and to open ‘Downton Live’ at Highclere Castle to audiences of around 12,000 people.
The global pandemic in March saw all his forthcoming concerts, masterclasses and debut recording in Italy cancelled. Determined not to give up Manu took a different route and built his own recording studio, learnt how to edit to a professional standard and recorded his debut album Solo Dialogue which was released in June 2020. A collection of five solo saxophone tracks with accompanying videos the aim is to express the different emotions that Manu experienced when the world shut down and to show there is still hope and optimism. The recording and videos have been supported by Classic FM on their social media sites as well as BBC Radio 3 In Tune.
Born in Seville, Spain, Manu started to play saxophone at the age of 9. He studied in Seville and was accepted and funded to study at Royal College of Music, where he graduated from his Master in Performance and Artist Diploma with Distinction and won numerous awards. Manu lives in London.