An exceptional ensemble

Guitar4mation is a guitar quartet based in Vienna, Austria, although the group’s members Michal Nagy, Petr Saidl, Martin Wesely and Martin Schwarz live as far apart as Poland, the Czech Republic and widely seperated  regions of Austria. Therefore, describing the group as based in trains, cars and planes would probably be more accurate....

The four musicians meet regularly in different places to enthrall their audiences  by presenting well known and lesser known music in their unique way, using the magical colours four guitars can create. Every one of Guitar4mation’s members adds his own individual musical experiences and stylistic expertise to enrichen the group’s repertoire.

A look back

Guitar4mation was founded in Vienna in 1993. The original ensemble consisted of Alexander Swete, Franics Montocchio, Michal Nagy und Martin Schwarz. The group was reconstructed in 2003 and has been playing with great success in Austria, Germany, Italy, Greece, Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic in its current 4mation.

Guitar4mation performed at the Wiener Konzerthaus, at international guitar festivals such as Lockenhaus, Mikulov, Gdansk, Tychy, Wroclaw, Gevelsberg, Bad Aibling and did live recordings for the ORF and Polish radio stations. The 1996 debut album ´From a Hidden Street´ was produced by Polskie Nagrania Edition Warsaw.

The recent CDs "pulse.sound.joy.heart." (2006) and "Sonada de Adios" (2010) were published by Gramola Vienna and have received enthusiastic international acclaim. 

Repertoire

Guitar4mation’s repertoire encompasses modern music, arrangements of romantic, impressionistic and Spanish works, music from Latin America as well as jazz and pop.

Original compositions - some of them written for and dedicated to Guitar4mation - and Guitar4mation’s unique arrangements are key elements of the group's ability to impress and delight its audiences.

(take a look at the current programmes)

Something special

Guitar4mation has a very dynamic way of playing not often encountered in classical guitar concerts, reaching from very delicate pianissimos to angrily buzzing strings.

At the end of a recital, Guitar4mation may surprise you with unexpected bouts of slapstick, gently making fun of the sometimes all too serious music business.

But you will have to come and see and hear this for yourselves....

(go to videos)