Randall Kohl, Guitar

Monday / October 21, 2019 / 7 p.m.

Williams Center for the Arts

The Music of Octaviano Yáñez

The Orizaban guitarist Octaviano Yáñez (1865–1927) was considered Mexico’s finest classical musician during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, enjoying a reputation much akin to Yo-Yo Ma’s or Joshua Bell’s today. Though absent from many histories and repertoire, Yáñez was one of the first guitarists ever recorded, having been sought by the Edison and Victor companies. Guitarist Randall Kohl will perform the music of Octaviano Yáñez, enjoyable melodies set to waltz and habanera rhythms that evoke the salons of Mexico’s “Belle Époque.” The program includes music by Mexican, Italian, Spanish, French, and Austro-Hungarian contemporaries of Yáñez’s, which he also arranged for guitar.

Tickets: Admission is free, but tickets are required and may be reserved online.