Thomas Dunford and Flavio Sala

I would like to draw your attention to two younger musicians—a lutenist & a guitarist—who have established themselves extremely well in the worlds they inhabit.

Thomas Dunford plays various lutes to a level I have not encountered since Julian Bream brought the music of the lute and particularly the music of John Dowland to the world’s attention through the 1970’s and 1980’s.

We need reminding of the greatness of John Dowland’s songs and solos, now reinterpreted through Thomas Dunford’s playing and direction. His consort of lute and voices and his exploration of solo lute pieces refreshes all I’ve learned about the lute. Hodgeson Smith was one of Thomas’s teachers but it’s Dowland and Bach that are his greatest inspirations. Dowland’s beautiful writing contains the weight of ‘melancholy’, it’s the underlining mood within all of his beautiful writing.
Listen then to Thomas as he masterfully explores the music of the lute for us, right now.

Flavio Sala has brought new zest to the classical guitar whilst fully respecting what has already transpired.

His technical ability is superbly matched by his sensitivity to the light and shade of his expanding repertoire, as he is now writing his own material. Having toured in recent years extensively in America, South America, Europe, Russia and his homeland of Italy, he’s learnt how to perform and raise the bar in solo and orchestral settings. His classical recording are superb! I was given his album of Venezuelan music by a friend of his there and immediately loved his playing.

We have recorded a duet of Sabrosa together and he plays my Mood For A Day and Surface Tension occasionally.

Enjoy!

Steve Howe
11 Feb 2019