Eden Stell Guitar Duo

Reporter: Dr Joe Dawson
Date online: 12/06/2008

To have one virtuoso guitarist is good, to have a pair is more than twice as good. Mark Eden and Christopher Stell have established themselves as one of the best of such combinations. Their playing held the audience spellbound even without amplification in such a large hall.

Since graduating from the Royal Academy of Music they have played and broadcast all over the world, made a number of CDs, and won several awards on the way.

They showed genuine humility in playing on the same stage as the legendary Segovia whom the Music Society presented in the 1980s, and they themselves must join the eminent annals of great performers brought by them.

Introducing their playing with charm and ease they performed totally from memory. The audience were immediately captivated by the intimate sound world that they conveyed with such superb musical skill and synchronisation.

They have developed a wide repertoire that spans several centuries and different musical styles.

Beginning with Spanish music by de Falla they moved to the Baroque harpsichord repertoire of Domenico Scarlatti and then effortlessly to the contemporary writing of Timothy Byers.

The rest of the programme was devoted to Spanish and Brazilian composers more readily associated with the instrument, but all of this they brought vividly to life. You did not need to be an aficionado to appreciate their expertise or enjoy their music.

Their encore treat was playing virtuoso music with both players on one guitar - a feat that has to be seen to be believed. Fantastic.

Eden Stell Guitar Duo
Rochdale Music Society
Gracie Fields Theatre
1 March 2003