Ensemble
Ensemble
Ensembles
John performs regularly in a variety of ensembles, including the following:
Olson/De Cari Duo — A husband-and-wife ensemble dedicated to expanding the repertoire for classical guitar and voice, deriving inspiration from their eclectic backgrounds in both science and the arts. Their first CD, Quiet Songs, features Baroque and twentieth-century repertoire for solo guitar and guitar and voice. Their new recording, Eve's Diary, will be released October 12, 2018, and will feature new compositions and arrangements written for the Duo, by David Leisner, João Luiz, Frank Wallace, and Clarice Assad.
Brooklyn Guitar Quartet — An ensemble of four experienced classical guitarists, dedicated to exploring contemporary, classical and popular repertoire. Recent recital programs have included transcriptions of piano music by Felix Mendelssohn and contemporary works of Leo Brouwer, as well as popular Brazilian rhythms by Paulo Bellinati. The quartet's aim is to communicate with its audience by choosing repertoire that is accessible while remaining substantive as works of sounding art.
Contemporanea Guitar Duo — A collaboration with guitarist Isabella Abbonizio, dedicated to performing vibrant and engaging contemporary repertoire for two guitars, with an emphasis on twentieth- and twenty-first century European music.
New York City Guitar Orchestra — A performing collective that unites all levels of musicians with a passion for exploring ensemble music in the unique context of the guitar orchestra. Established by the New York City Classical Guitar Society and directed by Jason Sagebiel, the NYCGO is a welcoming and professionally-run organization dedicated to providing valuable ensemble experience for guitarists of diverse backgrounds, while maintaining musical excellence and a commitment to fostering the creation of new music.
See below for samples of John's work with these ensembles
VOICE & GUITAR
VOICE & GUITAR
Olson/De Cari Duo
Gioia De Cari, soprano, and john olson, guitar
Olson/De Cari Duo Videos
“Shenandoah,” arranged by Frederic Hand
“Omar’s Lament” from Five Quiet Songs by John W. Duarte
“This Happy Madness” by Antônio Carlos Jobim and Gene Lees, arranged by João Luiz
"Archimedes" by Andrew York
"Seagulls" from Outdoor Shadows by David Leisner
“This Moment” by John Bucchino, arranged by Clarice Assad
“Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables, arranged by Clarice Assad
“The Moon” from Eve’s Diary by David Leisner; text by Mark Twain
Olson/De Cari Duo ALBUMS
EVE’s DIARY
Featuring new works written or arranged for the Olson/De Cari Duo:
Eve's Diary by David Leisner, on texts by Mark Twain
Men, Women and Molecules by Frank Wallace, on poems of Roald Hoffmann
Four Jobim Songs, arranged by João Luiz
Five Intimate Theatre Songs, arranged by Clarice Assad
Purchase at olsondecariduo.com | Amazon
Download at Amazon | Apple Music
QUIET SONGS
Olson/De Cari Duo’s first recording
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 and Prelude No. 3 by Heitor Villa-Lobos
Outdoor Shadows by David Leisner
Five Quiet Songs by John W. Duarte
Missing Her by Frederic Hand
Songs from the Schmelli Gesangbuch; selections from Suite BWV 995 by J. S. Bach
Gershwin songs arranged by John W. Duarte
Purchase at olsondecariduo.com | Amazon
OLSON DE CARI DUO SINGLE
For more information about the Olson/De Cari Duo, visit olsondecariduo.com.
To purchase the first Olson/De Cari Duo CD, Quiet Songs, click below.
Guitar Quartet
Guitar Quartet
Brooklyn Guitar Quartet
Lars Frandsen, CARLOS CUESTAS, John Olson and Matt Rosenthal, guitars
Brooklyn Guitar Quartet RECORDINGS
Three Brazilian Pieces
by João Luiz
On the New York City Guitar Orchestra’s album Spectra: New Music for Guitar Orchestra
“The performance is simply superb . . . Particularly evocative is the central movement, ‘Kirsten.’” — Fanfare magazine
Lars Frandsen, Jesse Miller, John Olson and Matt Rosenthal, guitars
Brooklyn Guitar Quartet Concert Videos
Guitar Duo
Guitar Duo
CONTEMPORANEA GUITAR DUO AUDIO RECORDINGS
Guitar Orchestra
Guitar Orchestra
New York City Guitar Orchestra
Jason Sagebiel, Director
NYCGO Concert Video
John performing the solo in J. S. Bach's Violin Concerto in E Major (BWV 1042), arranged for guitars and conducted by Jason Sagebiel, from a live concert performance at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music:
For more information about the NYC Guitar Orchestra, visit guitarorchestra.nyc.
Photo credits, top to bottom: NYC Guitar Orchestra ensemble by Gioia De Cari; Olson/De Cari Duo by Simon Powis; Brooklyn Guitar Quartet by Gioia De Cari; Contemporanea Guitar Duo by Roberto Pieraccini; NYC Guitar Orchestra by Bruce Parker.