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. Having graduated with first class honours and the Timothy Gilson Guitar Prize in 2019, she has returned to the Royal Academy where her master’s degree is supported by the Hattori Foundation, Help Musicians UK and the Drake Calleja Trust.

During her time at Chetham’s Alexandra had many opportunities to play with various ensembles, such as string quartets, guitar trios and jazz groups, which resulted in her becoming a member of the Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra. With the orchestra came the opportunity to tour Germany and the Czech Republic, where they sold out venues in both 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 2016 Alexandra was invited to perform at Abbey Road Studios alongside singer- songwriter Imelda May for EMI Music and Sound Foundation and Universal Music. She has also enjoyed giving recitals throughout Europe, including at Festival Le Temps des Guitares in south-west France, Vilnius Town Hall in Lithuania, venues in Italy and Germany, and the British Embassy in Paris.

Closer to home Alexandra has played at London’s County Hall and Milton Court Concert Hall and the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. She has also appeared as a concerto soloist with Gorton Philharmonic Orchestra and Dorset Chamber Orchestra.

Maintaining an active online presence, Alexandra has gained over 180,000 subscribers on YouTube during the last four years, where videos of her performances of popular classical guitar repertoire have collectively surpassed 26 million views.

She has also been a prize-winner in several competitions including the inaugural Edinburgh Guitar Competition, the Carpathian International Youth Guitar Competition in Budapest and the Gregynog Young Musician Competition.

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

This album contains no booklet.