Ida Presti

Ida Presti, (31 May 1924 - 24 April 1967) was a French classical guitarist. She has been called ‘the greatest guitarist of the 20th century, and possibly of all time.’

Biography

She was born in Suresnes, France. She recorded for the French arm of the HMV label in 1937 after being lauded for her prodigious talent by her teachers and contemporaries. She met the classical guitarist Alexandre Lagoya in 1951 and a year later they married. The two formed one of the most accomplished classical guitar duos in history, and performed over 2,000 concerts^{[citation needed]}.

On April 24, 1967 she died of lung cancer-related complications at 42 during a concert tour in the United States.

Recordings

• Ida Presti & Luise Walker - Les grandes dames de la guitare Pearl, Pavilion Records (9133 GEMM CD)
• Art de Alexandre Lagoya avec Ida Presti. Philipps 2004 (6 CD set)
• Some photos of LP covers (Oviatt Library Digital Collections)
• Recital at festival in Aix en Provence

References

• Graham Wade: A Concise History of the Classic Guitar. Mel Bay Publications 2001, ISBN 078664978X, pp. 134-136, 198 (online copy at Google Books)
• Ernie Jackson: The Everything Guitar Book. Everything Books 2007, ISBN 9781598692501, p. 153 (online copy at Google Books)
• Hannu Annala, Heiki Mätlik: Handbook of Guitar and Lute Composers. Mel Bay Publications 2008, ISBN 9780786658442, p. 117 (online copy at Google Books)
• Eleftheria Kotzia: Wish you were here: Ida Presti (1924-1967). Classical Guitar, Mai 1992
• Alice Arzt: Ida Presti Another Point of View. Classical Guitar magazine, August 2007, pp. 28
• Anne Marillia & Elisabeth Presti: Ida Presti — sa vie, son art/her life, her art. 2005. 200 p. 210 x 297 mm 40 photos. English and French. (Online-Review)

External links

• Myspace (www.myspace.com)
• Some words about the great Ida Presti by Robert Lemieux
• Homage to Ida Presti by Richard Sagala