Eliot Fisk has spoken eloquently and passionately about the guitar and it’s place in the world in interviews and a TEDx talk. He has expounded on the significance of his mentor Andrés Segovia and even weighed in on Jimi Hendrix’s importance, both culturally and musically. His playing is somewhat controversial, eliciting high praise and condemnation in about equal amounts. The criticism has to do with his technical prowess and speed which some feel comes at the expense of artistic expression, perhaps missing the point that his technique is part of his expression and his interpretations of the “canon” of classical guitar works. His performance in Camerata Pacifica’s September 14th concert was not an occasion for showing off his more pyrotechnic (and often jaw-dropping) side, but an intimate and more elegant display of sensitive interpretive skills. He was given 2 standing ovations in honor of his beautiful playing. Long live the guitar, in all it’s many, many sounds and forms!
