Lubomír Brabec (Guitar, Arranger)

Born: May 21, 1953 - Plzen, Western Bohemia, Czechoslovakia

The Czech guitarist, Lubomír Brabec, started as a violinist, taking up the guitar at the age of 13. He studied at the Conservatory in Plzen from 1968 to 1972, and completed his education at the Prague Conservatory from 1972 to 1974. A decisive landmark at the early stage of his career was the success he achieved at the International Guitar Competition in Paris, in 1974, where he won the title of laureate. In 1980, he was granted a British government scholarship which enabled him to pursue his schooling at London's Royal Academy of Music (1980-1981), in whose Early Music Center he specialized in early music interpretation, with a focus on the lute literature (1981-1982).

Lubomír Brabec ranks among the foremost concert guitarists of the present time. He appears regularly with Prague orchestras, and has performed throughout Europe, USSR, North and Latin America. The critics have acclaimed him as a musician of refined taste, flawless tone and immaculate technique, ranking him alongside the world's most brilliant guitarists.

Lubomír Brabec's many recordings include: Baroque Music: J.S. Bach, George Frideric Handel, Silvius Leopold Weiss, Jelinek (Supraphon); Spanish Music: Torroba, Falla, Albeniz, Turina, Rodrigo (Panton); Antonio Vivaldi: Guitar Concertos with Prague Chamber Orchestra and with violist L. Maly and guitarist Martin Mysliveček (Supraphon); F. Tarrega : Guitar Works and Arrangements (Supraphon); Heitor Villa-Lobos: 5 Preludes, 12 Etudes (Panton); J. Obrovska: Concerto for Two Guitars with Milan Zelenka (Panton); S. Bodorova: Tre Canzone da Suonare (Supraphon); Transformations I: Bach, Lennon/McCartney, Myers, Satie, Falla, Prokofiev; Transformations II: Bach, Janacek, Musorgsky, Marcello; Lubomir Brabec Live at Prague Spring Festival: Dowland, J.S. Bach, H. Villa-Lobos; Viola and Guitar, Italian Music with Lubomir Maly. He also has many TV and radio appearances, including two one-hour TV recitals.

Lubomír Brabec's honours include: Laureate of the Concours International de Guitare, Paris in 1974, and H. Villa-Lobos Medal in 1987, from Brazilian Government.

Source: International Who's Who in Music & International Directory (13^th Edition, 1992/93); Bits & pieces from various websites
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (June 2008)

Lubomír Brabec: Short Biography | Recordings of Instrumental Works

Links to other Sites

Koncertní agentura PISKO - Lubomír Brabec [Czech]