The festival commenced on Saturday lunchtime with a guitar recital given by David Cotter in the relaxed surroundings of the Eliot House Hotel. David launched his recital with a Prelude from one of Bach’s cello suites and concluded with a performance of the mighty D minor Chaconne from the 2nd Partita for solo violin. The chaconne has gained something of the status of an icon of western art comparable with Michelangelo’s Sistine chapel roof. So what a rare opportunity to experience it in the intimate setting of Liskeard’s Eliot House Hotel! Between these two icons of the Bach canon David included an eclectic range of pieces most of which had something of an interior monologue about them ‘La huida de los amantes’ by the contemporary Cuban composer Leo Brouwer, the Prelude No3 by Heitor Villa Lobos, the renowned, though anonymous, Spanish Romance and most notably Sofia Gubaidulina’s Serenade, an early piece from 1960. David sounded almost apologetic for including this modernist piece but actually I found it to be a highlight of the programme and the piece that most justified the title of the programme ‘Bach to the Future’.... David informed us that Gubaidulina has been quoted as saying ‘Bach is my constant devotion in life’ and this was clear if not from the tonal universe of the music from its extreme introspection. In the Serenade one can hear the influence of Shostakovich, the sparseness (in his chamber music) and the use of extreme registers (surely inherited from late Beethoven) growling almost exclusively in the lower registers at the outset before progressing quite suddenly via a simple scale to an ethereal ending in the stratosphere. There could not be a clearer representation of spiritual ascent than this step by step climbing up a ladder into the heights, beautifully executed in this performance. This composer is not just communing with herself but with her God in precisely the same way as did JS Bach throughout his life & career. The rest of the programme was taken up with Fernando Sor’s Magic Flute Variations and the Polka Dance of Johan Kaspar Mertz. David owned to the Sor being his favourite piece in the programme - and it showed! He played with great verve, particularly in the last 3 variations. David Cotter has an impeccable academic pedigree and plays with assiduous attention to nuance and detail. His understanding of the works he plays compels us to listen. There is something profoundly meditative about his playing.
Jonathan Lewsey (East Cornwall Bach Festival) (24th March 2018)
Actor, author, director, lecturer, and singer
...it was such a privilege to be with you last evening...we were enchanted by the versatility of you both and the imaginative programme...you are a most talented duo...
Clare Thomas (Duo Palatino Concert) (16th April 2017)
Plympton Rotary Club - President
...it was a real pleasure to be there and to be treated to such a delightful programme...looking forward to next year...
Mercedes Sarabia (Duo Palatino Concert) (16th April 2017)
...congratulations to David and Sophie on their debut concert...a beautiful evening...
Margaret Bowhay (Duo Palatino Concert) (16th April 2017)
Pianist
...we enjoyed your performance of the Lennox Berkeley Four Pieces...looking forward to your next recital...
Daniele Bergonzi (29th July 2016)
...highlight of the recital was the Villa-Lobos with excellent dynamic range and absolutely lovely melodic playing...
Dr Hector Sequera (31st May 2016)
Durham University - Music Department - Performance Lecturer
Early Music Specialist
...expressive and competent playing, with a nice variety of styles...
Professor Jeremy Dibble (31st May 2016)
Durham University - Music Department -Head of Department
...a very enjoyable evening of great guitar music...
James Murphy (24th April 2016)
Luthier
...thank you so much David for holding the recital...i'm so pleased it was such a success, and sold out yet again...
Matthew Oakes (24th April 2016)
Plymouth Deaf Children's Society - Vice Chairman
...the Victorian Chapel was packed for a classical guitar concert given by two talented young musicians, David Cotter assisted by Cameron Livsey...our thanks to David and Cameron for a wonderful evening...
Ford Park Cemetery Trust (23rd April 2016)
...a real pleasure to listen to these two young musicians [David Cotter and Cameron Livsey]...a memorable evening in a wonderful setting...looking forward to the next one...
Mercedes Sarabia (23rd April 2016)
...we had a fantastic time at your concert...thank you to you and Cameron for a superb evening of mesmerising entertainment...on behalf of the PDCS I would like to once again thank you for your retiring contributions from this wonderful event that we were truly honoured to witness...
Nikki Jewell (23rd April 2016)
Plymouth Deaf Children's Society - Management Committee
...David was a fantastic asset to our wedding, he played beautifully and selected an excellent range of music to fit our brief. We had so many positive comments after the event! We really can’t thank him enough...
Oliver and Rosie Brown (27th June 2015)
...Dowland’s Flow My Tears was a hit across Europe, and has remained so with musicians of every style; Sophie Kidwell and William Ford, with guitarist David Cotter gave it a serenely understated performance...
Jane Shuttleworth (28th January 2015)
Music in Durham
...thank you for playing wonderfully at the concert at Saltash Community College in aid of Plymouth and District Deaf Children's Society and NDCS...you certainly went down very well with the audience who loved you and you also helped raise a huge amount of money for the two charities...can't wait to hear you play again...
Jo Samanovic (20th August 2013)
Plymouth Deaf Children's Society - Secretary
...has entertained us both for our Celebrating Young Performers concerts and also through Plymouth Music Accord...very talented young man...
Sylvia Bedbrook (16th August 2013)
Plymouth Music Accord
Soroptimist International
...a musician whose reputation precedes him...
David Everson (1st August 2013)
Composer
...i'm not someone who goes to musical recitals or anything of the sort but I recently saw David at the Flavel Art Centre in Dartmouth and was blown away...
Rosie Stevenson (1st August 2013)
...have had the pleasure of listening to David perform at a number of events, an accomplished musician and guitarist...I would not hesitate to book him for future events...
Sharon Matthews (31st July 2013)
St Luke's Hospice - Volunteer Ambassador
...with fluency, lyricism and great meaning...your music means so much to you and this shows in your performance...will always remember the many times I have heard and very much appreciated your skill and musicianship...
Clare Thomas (30th July 2013)
Plympton Rotary Club - President
...you are a very accomplished guitarist and I have no doubt you will go to the very top in your chosen career...great to work with you, even better to listen to you playing...
Joe Murtagh (30th July 2013)
Professional Photographer
...seriously amazing guitarist...
Oliver Bredemeyer (30th July 2013)
...demonstrates much natural ability for the instrument and has a lot of innate musicality...
Alison Smith (8th May 2011)
Classical Guitarist
Jonathan Lewsey (East Cornwall Bach Festival) (24th March 2018)
Actor, author, director, lecturer, and singer
...it was such a privilege to be with you last evening...we were enchanted by the versatility of you both and the imaginative programme...you are a most talented duo...
Clare Thomas (Duo Palatino Concert) (16th April 2017)
Plympton Rotary Club - President
...it was a real pleasure to be there and to be treated to such a delightful programme...looking forward to next year...
Mercedes Sarabia (Duo Palatino Concert) (16th April 2017)
...congratulations to David and Sophie on their debut concert...a beautiful evening...
Margaret Bowhay (Duo Palatino Concert) (16th April 2017)
Pianist
...we enjoyed your performance of the Lennox Berkeley Four Pieces...looking forward to your next recital...
Daniele Bergonzi (29th July 2016)
...highlight of the recital was the Villa-Lobos with excellent dynamic range and absolutely lovely melodic playing...
Dr Hector Sequera (31st May 2016)
Durham University - Music Department - Performance Lecturer
Early Music Specialist
...expressive and competent playing, with a nice variety of styles...
Professor Jeremy Dibble (31st May 2016)
Durham University - Music Department -Head of Department
...a very enjoyable evening of great guitar music...
James Murphy (24th April 2016)
Luthier
...thank you so much David for holding the recital...i'm so pleased it was such a success, and sold out yet again...
Matthew Oakes (24th April 2016)
Plymouth Deaf Children's Society - Vice Chairman
...the Victorian Chapel was packed for a classical guitar concert given by two talented young musicians, David Cotter assisted by Cameron Livsey...our thanks to David and Cameron for a wonderful evening...
Ford Park Cemetery Trust (23rd April 2016)
...a real pleasure to listen to these two young musicians [David Cotter and Cameron Livsey]...a memorable evening in a wonderful setting...looking forward to the next one...
Mercedes Sarabia (23rd April 2016)
...we had a fantastic time at your concert...thank you to you and Cameron for a superb evening of mesmerising entertainment...on behalf of the PDCS I would like to once again thank you for your retiring contributions from this wonderful event that we were truly honoured to witness...
Nikki Jewell (23rd April 2016)
Plymouth Deaf Children's Society - Management Committee
...David was a fantastic asset to our wedding, he played beautifully and selected an excellent range of music to fit our brief. We had so many positive comments after the event! We really can’t thank him enough...
Oliver and Rosie Brown (27th June 2015)
...Dowland’s Flow My Tears was a hit across Europe, and has remained so with musicians of every style; Sophie Kidwell and William Ford, with guitarist David Cotter gave it a serenely understated performance...
Jane Shuttleworth (28th January 2015)
Music in Durham
...thank you for playing wonderfully at the concert at Saltash Community College in aid of Plymouth and District Deaf Children's Society and NDCS...you certainly went down very well with the audience who loved you and you also helped raise a huge amount of money for the two charities...can't wait to hear you play again...
Jo Samanovic (20th August 2013)
Plymouth Deaf Children's Society - Secretary
...has entertained us both for our Celebrating Young Performers concerts and also through Plymouth Music Accord...very talented young man...
Sylvia Bedbrook (16th August 2013)
Plymouth Music Accord
Soroptimist International
...a musician whose reputation precedes him...
David Everson (1st August 2013)
Composer
...i'm not someone who goes to musical recitals or anything of the sort but I recently saw David at the Flavel Art Centre in Dartmouth and was blown away...
Rosie Stevenson (1st August 2013)
...have had the pleasure of listening to David perform at a number of events, an accomplished musician and guitarist...I would not hesitate to book him for future events...
Sharon Matthews (31st July 2013)
St Luke's Hospice - Volunteer Ambassador
...with fluency, lyricism and great meaning...your music means so much to you and this shows in your performance...will always remember the many times I have heard and very much appreciated your skill and musicianship...
Clare Thomas (30th July 2013)
Plympton Rotary Club - President
...you are a very accomplished guitarist and I have no doubt you will go to the very top in your chosen career...great to work with you, even better to listen to you playing...
Joe Murtagh (30th July 2013)
Professional Photographer
...seriously amazing guitarist...
Oliver Bredemeyer (30th July 2013)
...demonstrates much natural ability for the instrument and has a lot of innate musicality...
Alison Smith (8th May 2011)
Classical Guitarist
