My European Journey Alexandra Whittingham

• Francisco Tárrega (1852 - 1909):
• 1 Tárrega: Capricho árabe 05:59
• 2 Tárrega: Recuerdos de la Alhambra 04:00
• Jaime Bosch (1825 - 1895):
• 3 Bosch: Brimborion, Op. 11: Romance sans paroles 04:45
• J.K. Mertz (1806 - 1856):
• 4 Mertz: Elegie 08:50
• Catharina Josepha Pratten (1821 - 1895):
• 5 Pratten: Forgotten: Impromptu 03:12
• Frederik Rung (1854 - 1914):
• 6 Rung: Albumsblade No. 43: Humoreske 01:11
• Napoléon Coste (1805 - 1883):
• 7 Coste: Le Départ, Op. 31: Fantaisie dramatique 10:03
• Ernest Shand (1868 - 1924):
• 8 Shand: Légende, Op. 201 03:02
• 9 Shand: The Gnomes, Op. 77 02:00
• Luigi Legnani (1790 - 1877):
• 10 Legnani: Fantasia brillante e facile, Op. 19 11:22
• Giulio Regondi (1823 - 1872):
• 11 Regondi: Introduction et Caprice, Op. 23 11:19
• Total Runtime 01:05:43

Info for My European Journey

Over the last four years, guitarist Alexandra Whittingham has reached listeners worldwide, not only through concerts and competition successes but above all online, where her video performances of classical guitar repertoire have gained over 25 million YouTube views. Now she brings all of her freshness, charm, curiosity and determination to bear on her first studio album. Recorded in a year when the relationship between musicians and audiences has never been more topical, My European Journey is a testament to what the imagination can achieve in a time of unprecedented physical barriers.

In this heartfelt, enchanting exploration of the guitar’s great coming of age in nineteenth-century Europe, staple works by Napoléon Coste, Giulio Regondi and Luigi Legnani give a warm Romantic embrace to a clutch of lesser-known miniatures – brimming with character and local colour from Vienna, London, Copenhagen and beyond. All are given vivid new life here, by an artist for whom connecting with audiences is second nature.

"Scots-based Delphian label has a track record when it comes to talent-spotting guitarists ... My European Journey reveals a player of sound ability and creative charisma ... There’s a natty Humoreske by Scandinavian Frederik Rung, Frenchman Napoléon Coste’s fantasie dramatique Le Départ, and from Italian Luigi Legnani a showcase Fantasie brilliante e facile. By then, Whittingham is on fire" (The Scotsman)

Alexandra Whittingham, classical guitar

Alexandra Whittingham
After studying classical guitar, piano, jazz guitar and composition at the world-renowned Chetham's School of Music for seven years, Alexandra Whittingham gained a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London. She recently graduated having been awarded first class honours and the Timothy Gilson Guitar Prize.

During her time at Chetham's, Alexandra had many opportunities to play with various ensembles, such as string quartets, guitar duets and jazz groups, which resulted in her becoming a member of Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra. With the orchestra came the opportunity to tour Germany and Czech Republic, where they sold out various venues within the two countries.

In her final year at the school, she also gained her LRSM (Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music) second diploma in guitar performance.

In the spring of 2013, Alexandra won the inaugural Edinburgh Guitar Competition. Following this, she travelled to Budapest to take part in the Carpathian International Youth Guitar Competition, where she gained second place.

In early 2015 at the Gregynog Young Musicians' Competition, Alexandra became Gregynog Young Guitarist of the year, and more recently was a finalist at the Aalborg International Guitar Competition in Denmark.​

Alexandra was delighted to be invited to perform at Abbey Road Studios alongside singer-songwriter Imelda May for EMI Music and Sound Foundation. She has also enjoyed giving recitals in Europe at such places as Festival Le Temps des Guitares in South-West France, Vilnius Town Hall in Lithuania and various festivals in Italy.

Other venues in which Alexandra has played include opening the European Guitar Teachers' Association Conference at York's Queen Margaret's School, The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, Milton Court Concert Hall in London and the British Embassy in Paris, where she performed to an invited audience of diplomats. Alexandra's concerto appearances also include performances with Gorton Philharmonic Orchestra and Dorset Chamber Orchestra.

Alexandra is delighted to be an Augustine Strings artist, using their Regal Blue range. She also plays a 2011 Christopher Dean guitar, sourced by Miles Roberts at Kent Guitar Classics.

This album contains no booklet.