About Carlos Bonell
 Carlos Bonell has enjoyed an immensely varied career. His activities include TV, Film and CD recordings, international tours, concertos with the major orchestras, and concerts with his own Ensemble. He can be heard on the sound tracks of the recent Hollywood films ‘City of Angels’ and ‘The Honest Courtesan’ and on the TV productions ‘Inspector Morse’ and ‘The Politician’s Wife’.
Carlos Bonell was born in London of Spanish parents and studied at the Royal College of Music with John Williams. He was appointed the youngest ever professor there in 1972. Carlos Bonell gained prominence in 1981 through his recording for Decca of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Charles Dutoit. It was hailed as a “magnificent triumph” by Classical Music Magazine, UK, and awarded a coveted rosette by the Penguin CD guide. Since that time it has been repeatedly singled out as the finest version available.
In addition to his Decca recordings, Carlos Bonell has recorded for EMI, ASV, CBS and Upbeat Classics. At the beginning of his recording career his 1976 CBS recording with John Williams and Friends received a Grammy nomination, while his 1998 solo CD release The Private Collection was described as “a masterclass in magic” by the BBC Music Magazine. His 1997 CD The Sea in Spring was chosen as Pick of the Week by Classic FM. The 2000 CD Kinkachoo, I love you - Millennium Guitar, the first 1000 years is a unique musical journey through 1000 years of musical history, and premières a number of works.
 Carlos Bonell has appeared in concert with a wide variety of musicians including guitarist John Williams, flamenco guitarists Paco Peña and Juan Martín, jazz guitarist Martin Taylor, violinists Salvatore Accardo, Pinchas Zukerman and Levon Chilingirian, and singers Patricia Rozario, Teresa Berganza, Cleo Laine and Philip Langridge.
His concert tours have extended to many parts of the world including most European capitals as well as the United States, Israel, the Far East, Australia, and South America. He has appeared regularly with all the major British orchestras and at many international Festivals including The City of London, Aldeburgh, Helsinki, Israel, Tanglewood, Sydney, Istanbul, Hong Kong and New York’s Mostly Mozart Festival. During the 1980’s he formed his own ensemble, the Carlos Bonell Ensemble, which includes some of Britain’s finest musicians. The Ensemble, which has toured in more than 20 countries, is widely regarded as the most innovative and entertaining guitar-based ensemble in the world today.
Carlos Bonell’s programmes reflect a wide musical interest beyond Spanish music. His association with various composers, and interest in contemporary music has led to programmes which include music by Barrington (“Inspector Morse” music) Pheloung, the late Stephen Oliver (who composed a guitar sonata for him), Ottavio Négro, Armand Coeck, and John Tavener.
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Contact Carlos Bonell
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Reviews
"… ambitious in scope…an audacious display…a musician of rare expressive skills."
Classical Guitar Magazine, UK, March 2000
"Technically perfect, an artist of great elegance and sincere expression who communicates through poetry in sound. "
El Norte, Mexico, 13th November 2004
"High art…a virtuoso performance. A keen aural imagination, and the technique to reproduce the subtlety of tints and tones he hears, is what makes the playing of Bonell so distinctive. "
The Times, 29th December 1999
"Supple rhythm and passionately lyrical phrasing. A masterclass in magic"
BBC Music Magazine, January 1999
"Peerless performance…utmost lucidity and gracefulness…magically atmospheric playing."
The West Australian, January 1999
"Carlos Bonell has a huge following in England, and the reception given to his recital was ecstatic. It was a performance of powerful contrasts and glowing colours. Orthodox in the contemporary sense it was not - and how his audience loved it!"
Classical Guitar Magazine, UK, January 1999
"…unfailingly seductive. Bonell possesses that rare ability to 'smile' through the instrument as in Albeniz's popular Granada, and also makes a thing of wonder out of Barrios' Julia Florida." Classic CD Magazine, UK, August 1998 "Great virtuosity…a wonderful variety of colours and rhythms…"
Yorkshire Evening Press, July 1998
"Continuously imaginative, Carlos Bonell makes full use of the expressive palette on whatever style of canvas the music is painted…He eked out each drop of inspiration from his heart. A concert bursting full of ideas."
Classical Guitar Magazine, UK, August 1998
"…a sensitive and poetic exponent… a varied and subtly employed tonal palette and lightly worn virtuosity."
Gramophone Magazine, February 1999
"This live lunchtime concert broadcast by the BBC was packed to the gills. An artist intent on drawing on many colours, Bonell likes to create vibrant pictures in sound."
Classical Guitar Magazine, UK, May 1998
Carlos Bonell in the world premiere of the musical “First Love and First Blood” at the Bridewell Theatre, London:
" Carlos Bonell's guitar playing is plaintive and atmospheric"
Mark Cook, Evening Standard, 30 May 2002
Carlos Bonell with the Sofia Symphony Orchestra of Bulgaria in Andorra:
" The real star of the evening was Carlos Bonell in a performance of Rodrigo’s Aranjuez Concerto in which he revealed a complete mastery of Spanish music"
el Periodic d’Andorra, 8th January 2001
Carlos Bonell with the Sofia Symphony Orchestra of Bulgaria in Andorra:
"Carlos Bonell fascinated the public with every note that came from his fingers"
Diari D’Andorra, 8th January 2001
Kinkachoo, I love you. Millennium Guitar, the first 1000 years CD
"… a touch of pure spirituality. Bonell adds all his expressive powers to the natural charisma of his mature interpretative art, in a repertoire ideally suited to him"
Guitarart magazine, Italy, December 2001
The Carlos Bonell Ensemble with Elisa “la gambita” in Zeven, Germany
" A standing ovation for a brilliant performance"
Zevener Zeitung vom, 13th June 2000
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