March 5-23, 2007
XI Bolívar Hall International Guitar Festival
In co-operation with the Embassies of Argentina, Brazil, Norway, The Cervantes Institute of London and Fox Management (France)

Nirse González, Venezuelan Guitarrist

Venue: Bolívar Hall of the Venezuelan Embassy, 54 Grafton Way, London W1T 5DL Free entrance: Booking by telephone and email ccm@venezlon.co.uk Information: www.venezlon.co.uk or tel. 0207 3885788 With special thanks to Robert Brightmore, Colin Cooper, Graham Devine, Forbes Henderson, Michael Levin, and Richard Wright.

The Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela gladly presents the XI edition of its Bolívar Hall International Guitar Festival. We continue with our double quest to provide talented guitarists from all over the world the opportunity to perform in London, and London audiences with that of listening to a repertoire they may not have heard before.

This is a multilateral diplomatic event which exists only thanks to the co-operation with our natural cultural partners, others embassies in London like those of Argentina, Brazil and Norway, with cultural institutes like the Cervantes, or in their absence, directly with the artists themselves or with their managers. The participation of the students from the United Kingdom's great academies, colleges, schools and conservatoires of music is always a source of pride for us, and what makes this festival unique. This year, Jorgen Skogmo, who has performed in three past festivals as a student, is welcome to the professional series.

Our very special thanks to the academic co-ordinator from Trinity College of Music, Graham Devine, who has put together a wonderfully varied series of programmes, and to our advisors from the press, the academies and the guitar world, without whose knowledge and expertise we would not have been able to present such interesting artists as Carlos Moscardini, Thibault Cauvin, Yamandu Costa, the Aquarelle Guitar Quartet and Margarita Ecarpa.

This year Venezuela and the guitar world celebrate the ninetieth anniversary of Antonio Lauro. His music appears profusely in this festival by choice of each artist, including young Nirse González, the second Venezuelan guitarrist to win, 23 years after Ricardo Iznaola, the Francisco Tárrega International Guitar Competition in Spain.

Alfredo Toro Hardy
Venezuelan Ambassador