Musical Training
Gerard Abiton always renews his repertory in quest of musical emotions, unbelievable perfection, and simple happiness, which he easily shares. A story close to his heart, shall we say.
Gerard Abiton performs regularly on international stages. Every single concert represents an event in the musical world : either playing solo or with an orchestra.
His first teacher was the guitarist and tenor Christian Jean, who won the first price of singing at the international Musical Execution Contest of Geneva, in 1979. This encounter has durably influenced Gerard Abiton's musical and aesthetic direction, in particular in the transition from natural expression to the performance of the guitar.
At 16 years old, Gerard Abiton joined the Conservatoire superieur national de musique of Paris (cnsmdp) in Alexander Lagoya's class.
In parallel to his instrumental studies, he studied harmony and counterpoint with Alain Truchot, his professor at the Conservatoire national superieur de musique of Paris. Gerard Abiton also attended the summer classes of Andres Segovia (Spain), Abel Carlevaro (Uruguay), and John Williams (Australia / Great Britain).In 1990 and 1991, he completed his training by attending the baroque interpretation classes of Herve Niquet, the Musical Director of the "Concert Spirituel".
In 1981, Gerard Abiton won the 37th International Contest of Musical Execution of Geneva and the "Franck Martin" special price from the Musicians Association of Geneva. In 1983, he became the winner of the Georges Cziffra association.
Teaching
The graduation of the Aptitude Certificate -Premier nomme- for guitar teaching at the French national conservatoires initiated Gerard Abiton in an educational carreer.
During 10 years, he taught in France at the National School of Rennes, between 1993 and 2009 at the National School of Orleans (France) and since 2010 he teaches at the "Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional" and the "Pôle Supérieur" of Paris (France).
Students in the CRR, Paris
He regularly sits at juries of nationals and international contests : - "Le Printemps de la guitare", Belgium, - C.I. Rene Bartoli, France, - C.I. Antony, France, - CI Maurizio Biasini, Bologna (Italia), CI "Francisco Tarrega", Benicassim, Spain.
Competition Benicassim, Spain with Nuncio d'Angelo, Jorge Cardoso, Antigoni Goni
with Jorge Cardoso, Jose Miguel Moreno
Competition Maurizio Biasini, Bologna, Italia, with Walter Zanetti, David Tanenbaum
Gerard Abiton teaches classes and master classes in the whole world :
Master class, Belgrade, Serbia
- Norway, National Schools of Oslo, Bergen and Drammen, - Danmark, National School of Copenhagen, - Sweden, National School of Malmoe, - United States of America, State University of Fullerton, Los Angeles, CA, - Russia, International Festival of Novosibirsk, - Bulgaria, International Festival of Plovdiv, - Ukraine, National School of Lviv, - Germany, summer Academy of Nurnberg, - Serbia, Guitar Art Festival, Belgrade - England, Cervantes Institute of Manchester, - Netherlands, National School of Groningen, - Italy, Festival of Fermo, - Lebanon, National School of Beirut, - Spain, summer Academy of Barcelona, - Mexico, International Guitar's Week of Mexico City, Vera Cruz, - France, International Paris Guitar Festival, Festival of Martinique, National Schools of Nancy, Reims, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Clermont-Ferrand, Festival of Montpellier, Aix en Provence, La Réunion
Master class, Fullerton, Los Angeles, USA
Attentive to the professional future of young guitarists, Gerard Abiton suggests in particular a discovery of the rich chamber music directory, often underestimated. He supported the idea during various demonstrations, notably during the collective of the French guitar professors and the colloquium "guitares croisees" (crossed guitars ) of Strasbourg and in the French review "La Lettre du Musicien" (The Letter of the Musician). He also created with Eric Sobczyk, director of the Dordogne-France National Schools, the training " Rencontres avec l'Orchestre " (Meet with the Orchestra), allowing the students to approach the work in concerto.
with Eric Sobczyk (conductor)
Scene
Gerard Abiton who is regularly invited at international events, plays recitals, chamber music and also plays with orchestras in many countries such as England, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Spain, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Danmark, Serbia, USA, Brazil, Argentina, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Israel, Algeria, Mexico..
with Léo Brouwer (conductor) and the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba
He is one of the rare guitarist invited by the city of Aranjuez, in Spain, to play the famous Concierto de Aranjuez by the Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo.
Gerard Abiton has been a featured soloist at many festivals including thoses of Guitar Festival of Hermoupoulis, Greece, British Music Festival, Norsk Guitar Festival, Norway, International Festival of Paris, France, Plovdiv Festival, Bulgaria, Carrefour des guitares, Martinique, France, Aix en Musique Festival, France, Novosibirsk Festival, Russia, Guitar Festival of Syracuse, Italia, Internationales de la Guitare de Montpellier, France, Guitar International Festival of Fermo, Italia, Resena Internacional de guitarra classica de Mexico, Mexico, Guitarras del Mundo, Argentina, Guitar Festival in Aalborg, Danmark, Guitar Festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Guitares en Picardie, France… Concert in Gliwice festival, Poland
with The Young Boston symphony Orchestra (Aix en Provence, France)
He played in prestigious concert halls such as Nezahualcoyotl hall of Mexico, Big theater of Geneva, Opera of Vichy, Hall of congress of Lugano, Citadel of Byblos, Abbey of Thoronet, Gaveau Hall of Paris,Sainte Chapelle of Paris, Hall of Congress of Ajaccio…
Concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
He has been soloist with National Symphonic Orchestra of Cuba,Collegium Musicum of Bale, Sinfonia of Manchester, Symphonic Orchestra of Orleans, Troyes, Dax, Ensemble Instrumental de Corse, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, National Symphonic Orchestra of Mexico, Orchestre Symphonique du Rhin...
Festival "Guitare en Picardie", France with Frédéric Bernard (conductor)
Partners
Gérard Abiton has played with :
Conductors : Jean Thorel, Jean-Marc Cochereau, Léo Brouwer, Jean-François Paillard, Aaron Kula, Ivan Anguelov, Didier Bouture, Eric Sobzick, Carlos Prieto, Michel Brandt, Albert Kaiser,Alexandre Stajic, Kurt Brass.
Jean Thorel Léo Brouwer
Jean-Marc Cochereau
Ivan Anguelov
Eric Sobzick
Aaron Kula
Quartetts : Enesco, Razumovsky.
Violonists : Adam Korniszewski, Christophe Bianco.
Altist : Jean-Philippe Bardon.
Cellists : Marc Drobinsky.
Flutist : Pierre Alain Biget.
Guitarists : Eric Franceries, Pablo Marquez, Tania Chagnot
Pablo Marquez Eric Franceries
Tania Chagnot
Singers : Ian Honeyman, Gilles Denizot, Catherine Greuillet.
Ian Honeyman
Harpsichordists : Herve Niquet, Beatrice Martin, Laurent Stewart
Béatrice Martin
Hervé Niquet
Mandolin player : Christian Schneider
Actor : Jean Gillibert
Repertoire
Gerard Abiton's repertoire is eclectic, with a certain tendency for the first half XXth century's music as bears his recordings devoted to the composers M.M. Ponce (complete), J. Turina (complete), F. Mompou, F.M. Torroba, J. Rodrigo and D. Scarlatti.
By his choices, Gerard Abiton unveils to the public the many forgotten scores of the XIXth century, he created with J. Bidart and P. Bolbach the guitar trio La Guitaromanie with old instruments.
Dedicated to many works of french composers - J.C. Wolff, P. Leroux, G. Iglesia, R. Campo, Y. Krier, M. Delaistier, G. Drozd, A.M. Rioux, R. Creuse...- Gerard Abiton reveals the guitar's integration in the different musical trends of our time.