|
News
Welcome to the web of Fernando
Raña, flute and Román González, guitar.
Formed in 1988 under the name of Raña-González,
they are now known as duoRG.
During the last few years they have been considered one of the most stable duos in the musical scene.
|
Biography
Fernando
Raña (flute) and Román González (guitar) formed
in 1988 the duo “Raña-González” - now called
duoRG - with the idea of studying and popularizing
music written by great composers for duos formed
by flute and guitar. During these years they
have given many concerts and made many recordings,
being considered by musical criticism as one
of the most stable and promising duos in the
present day musical scene.
Fernando Raña, from Pontesampaio (Pontevedra),
a student of Magdalena Martínez, and qualified
by the Guildhall School, is at present a teacher
at the Superior Conservatoire of Vigo.
Román González, from La Manchica (Ourense),
studied at the Music Conservatoire of Madrid,
later becoming a student of David Russell. At
present he is also a teacher at the Superior
Conservatoire of Vigo.
As a duo, they have given concerts all over
Spain in collaboration with the Galician Government
(Xunta de Galicia), delegations, banking companies,
Young People Musicals, Philharmonic Societies,
etc. They have participated in numerous international
festivals, of which could be highlighted: VII
International Guitar Festival in Ponferrada,
II Young Interpreters Contest (Santiago de Compostela),
Mid-day Concerts - Juan March Foundation (Madrid),
X International Music Festival of Tomar (Portugal),
The Spanish Guitar Museum N. Piñole (Gijón),
XI Ángel Barja Memorial (León), The Way and
the Music (Caixa Galicia Foundation), XI International
Cycle of Young People Musicals (Vigo), Guitar
Encounters Porto (Portugal), Leibstadt Music
Festival (Switzerland).
In 1997
they recorded their first CD “Círculo mágico”
[Magic circle] with music from the 20 th Century
for flute and guitar, which was released by
the recording label Caskabel and re-released
by MUSICLAS in mp3.
In 2006 “Candombe”,
world music for flute and guitar, released and
distributed on mp3 via the internet
At present
they are working on a new Bach CD.
|
|
| Reviews
The duo Raña-González have accomplished a musical work that is worthy of praise, not only because of the grand aesthetic sense and refined technique shown in all the works of the programme, but also for the enormous and special artistic value that encompasses a literature that is not offered to us with excessive frequency, as there are few opportunities in which one can feel these two instruments dialoguing.
Simón Vaquero (Diario de Pontevedra)
The accurate agreement between both interpreters is made apparent in their intentions and creations, based on how well the particular instrumental timbres are combined. Raña exhibited an exemplary “fi ato” in the designs of fast and dextrous risk, or in the delays of long inspirations. His frequent prominence became clearly supported by the precise and delicate strumming of González, which achieved prominence in some of the “solo” passages.
Ramiro Cartelle (El ideal Gallego)
Fernando Raña and Román González
offer us a balanced interpretation and a perfect
merging between technique and expressiveness
with great musical personality. We have before
us a solid duo, which, among other things, have
the virtue of venturing to offer a literature
that is not frequent.
Juan M. Nieto (Revista
guitarreando – Portugal)
We
have to point out, finally, the excellent sound
that they have achieved in the recording sessions
carried out at the monastery of San Pedro de
las Dueñas ( León), near Sahagún.
This is an important element to have as a result
a suggestive CD.
Juan Luis Puente
(Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid)
|
|
Opinions
“I have known of the duo “Raña-González” through Fernando Raña, one of my best students, both for his qualities as a flute player and for his way of understanding and interpreting music.
It has been very gratifying for me to listen to – both on record and live- to these two musicians, who perfectly understand each other, with a serious and professional attitude towards music. The balance between the flute and guitar, as well as clarity and maturity in their interpretation would be the fundamental qualities that I observe in this duo.
At a time when there abound “improvised” groups, it is very satisfying to see that chamber groups, such as those formed by Fernando and Román, maintain and continue to position themselves on quality, work and seriousness”.
Magdalena Martínez
|
“I believe that the concerts held by this duo will always be a success.”
David Russell
|
“I have had the pleasure of knowing the guitarist Román González during these last years and in this time I have seen a continuous development in his music and his ability as a guitarist. At present, he has achieved a high level of musicality which he interprets with a clear and meticulous technique.
I have recently listened to the duo he has formed with Raña (a flute player of great sensibility and virtuosity) and I have been pleasantly satisfied, both by their high musical level and of their professionalism on stage. Their programme was well chosen, presenting works of great artistic quality which allowed them to demonstrate their abilities, as well as creating a good communication with the audience.
I believe that the concerts held by the duo “Raña-González” will always be a success.
David Russell
|
Román González, classical guitarist.
Román González was born in La Manchica (Ourense - Spain) in 1956.
He soon came into contact with the guitar, although at first in a somewhat self-taught manner. He later moved to Madrid, where he did his musical studies at the Conservatoire. On finishing his studies he returned to Galicia after having past the public entrance examination for a post as a Guitar teacher at the Superior Conservatoire of Music in Vigo, were he is teaching at present.
On finishing his higher studies in Madrid with the teacher José Luis Rodrigo, he took part in different international courses, of which could be highlighted those given by José Tomás (Vigo and Vila-Seca), Leo Brouwer (El Escorial), Paul O'Dette (Daroca) and mainly those taught by David Russell, a guitarist who directly and fundamentally influenced his technical and musical training (courses given in Ourense, Vigo, Minorca, Vienna, etc.).
|
|
He combines
his teaching activities at the Conservatoire
with giving concerts. As a soloist he has
given numerous concerts although, at present,
his attention is focused mainly on the work
with the flute player Fernando Raña, both
in interpretation and the recording of music
written for flute and guitar.
Román has recorded two CD with this
chamber group.
At present he is working on a new Bach CD,
arranging the complete flute and continuo
sonatas.
|
|
Fernando Raña , flute.
He was born in Pontesampaio (Pontevedra – Spain) in 1970.
At an early age he came into contact with music and soon his interest centred on the Boehm flute, being the reason for moving to Madrid were he finalized his studies at the Conservatoire of said city.
He later studied with Magdalena Martínez, a teacher with whom he achieved the Performers Diploma at the Guildhall School. In 1997 he obtained an honourable mention in the “International Music Tournament” (Zaragoza) and a year later he reached the semi-final in the International Contest “Maria Canals”. As a supplement to his training he also had classes from the teachers Alain Marion, Nicolas Brochot and Kate Hill (invited by the JONDE). |
| He
has collaborated with orchestras such as Xoven
Orquesta of Galicia, Orquesta de la Comunidad
Autónoma of Galicia, Orquesta Clásica of Vigo,
Orquesta Lírica Nacional, Orquesta Internacional
del Festival of Murcia, Orquesta Sinfónica from
the South of Galicia, Orquesta del Principado
de Asturias, Orquesta Sinfónica of Galicia.
In 1992 he passed the public entrance examination
of the Ministry of Education and Culture for
a post as a conservatoire teacher, after having
done teacher training in Gijón and A Coruña.
At present he is a teacher at the Superior Conservatoire
of Music in Vigo.
Along with the above mentioned teaching, he
also does interpretation, centring mainly on
concerts given along with the guitarist Román
González, a formation with which he has
recorded a two CD´s of original music
for flute and guitar written in the 20 th Century.
At present he is working on a new Bach CD, the
complete flute and continuo sonatas.
|
|
|
|
|
