Guitar Festival Tuning Up

IT will be an extra long weekend in heaven for guitar lovers and musicians when the Mutual Savings and Loan of Cartago (MUCAP) hosts the 12th International Guitar Festival at the National Theater in San José, starting Sept. 21.This year, homage will be paid to Hector Villalobos, a Brazilian folk-guitar pioneer and a member of the bohemian artist movement of 1920s Paris, as 19 guitarists from seven different countries will present folk, jazz, classic, rock and blues guitar performances.“We have been working to get close to the Brazilian Embassy for some time,” said Luis Zumbado, the event’s artistic director, about the years of planning involved in setting up a theme honoring Villalobos.“Finally we were able to get this event off the ground.” Among the artists performing at the event are classical guitarist Pepé Romero, from Spain, and Duo Assad, two Brazilian brothers who play acoustic guitar, all playing for the first time in Costa Rica.Guitar stylings representative of North America will also be performed, with U.S.- born Jason Jenkins performing rock on electric guitar and self-taught guitarist Buddy Tetreault rolling in with country ballads.“When we talk about (these names) we’re talking about artists who are known worldwide,” said Zumbado. “The participation of all these Latin American artists, along with those from North America, will offer a great variety of music.”Tickets range from ¢4,500-8,000 ($9.25-16.75) for each event, with MUCAP clients receiving a special 10% discount. They are available at Más x Menos supermarkets, MUCAP bank locations and the National Theater Web site, www.teatronacional.go.cr. A schedule of performances can be found on the Calendar pages.