Guitarist Thibault Cauvin is 28 years old and has won 13 guitar competitions (and taken second prize in 12 others, all before he was 20), played more than a thousand concerts on six continents, including a tour of China that was the subject of a documentary film, and has put out a locally-produced album of new music. He is a technical wizard, of course, but one who seems entranced by the possibilities that opens for him.
His calling cards include a piece written for him by his father, Roland Dyens’ arrangement of “A Night in Tunisia”, and sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti and what you notice right away is unforced naturalness in the playing (at least on video). It’s certainly music that shows the young man to be on top of developments in classical technique and style, and played with the verve and certainty of a young man at the top of his game, this is likely to be a winning concert.