Andrew Blanch & Ariel Nurhadi - Alchemy (2020) [Hi-Res]

Two of Australia’s hottest young guitarists take us on a trip through time and around the world of classical guitar.

“Andrew Blanch and Ariel Nurhadi are the rockstars of Nylon-Acoustic Classical music. Whilst their technicality as musicians are immediately apparent, so also is their love for music and performing.” On Sounds

Andrew Blanch and Ariel Nurhadi are “two stunning young guitarists” (Sydney Arts Guide) who have been performing together since 2014, touring as a duo as well as with baritone José Carbó in The José Carbó Trio. They have been described as “breathtaking” (Canberra Critics Circle), and praised for their “dazzling guitar playing” (ArtsHub).

Alchemy, their debut recording, takes us on a journey through history and around the world, through beloved works by Debussy, Rameau, Piazzolla, Albéniz, Falla and Granados. The album also features the acclaimed ‘Three Duets’ by the late Australian guitarist and composer Phillip Houghton – including ‘Alchemy’, the first piece that Andrew and Ariel performed as a duo and the piece after which this album is named.

This is a gorgeous album, full of classic pieces beautifully performed, and announces major new stars in the already-glittering galaxy of Australia’s classical guitar community.

Amongst the exciting emergence of a new generation of classical musicians, guitarist Andrew Blanch stands out. Armed with formidable talent, passion, and conviction, Andrew has carved out his own path to much acclaim. His independently released album ‘Spanish Guitar Music’ (2015) which Jim McCutcheon of Soundboard Magazine (USA) noted as “one of the best debut albums I’ve ever heard” marked the auspicious beginnings to a busy and multifaceted musical career today.

As a soloist, Andrew has been awarded numerous prizes in international competitions including first prize in the Adelaide International Guitar Competition (2019) and the Melbourne International Guitar Competition (2015). His collaborations are extensive and he is commissioning new works for the guitar from celebrated Australian composers Daniel Rojas, Felicity Wilcox, Jessica Wells and Robert Davidson.

Andrew, based in Sydney, Australia, is managed by Tier 1 Arts and plays a 2014 Greg Smallman and Sons guitar. Andrew graduated with First Class Honours from the Australian National University in 2013 where he studied with Timothy Kain and Minh Le Hoang.

Ariel Nurhadi is a Sydney-based guitarist, active on the performing circuit having toured extensively through Australia and New Zealand. Ariel has performed with some of Australia’s leading musicians and singers and his love of collaborative projects continues with The Jose Carbo Trio, his guitar duo with Andrew Blanch and a forthcoming project called The Great Acceleration with Ensemble Offspring and Topology.

Ariel is a graduate of Timothy Kain’s renowned guitar class at the ANU, which he completed with first-class honours. During his studies, he developed a keen interest in historical performance practice, with a focus on the interpretive style of Andrés Segovia.