Theorbo Virtuoso Nacho Laguna to Headline La Laguna International Plucked String Festival
Theorbo virtuoso Nacho Laguna will make his Canary Islands solo debut at the La Laguna International Plucked String Festival on July 3rd, showcasing a program that bridges 17th-century Baroque music with contemporary electronic experimentation.
The revival of Baroque music through plucked string instruments is thriving in Spain, a trend that will be on full display at the upcoming La Laguna International Plucked String Festival (Ficup). The festival has announced that theorbo player Nacho Laguna will make his Canary Islands solo debut on July 3rd at the Fundación Cristino de Vera-Espacio Cultural CajaCanarias.
The festival, running from July 1st to 8th with support from the La Laguna City Council and the Fundación CajaCanarias, features more than just recitals. Laguna, a renowned specialist in early music, will also host a masterclass for emerging musicians. He encourages his students to take an open-minded approach to the instrument, urging them to create their own arrangements and look beyond traditional academic boundaries.
Laguna’s performance will center on his recent project, Ferrarese, which explores the music of 17th-century composer Giovanni Pittoni. Rather than simple transcriptions, Laguna creates a dialogue between Pittoni’s sonatas and adaptations linked to the city of Ferrara. This highlights the versatility of the theorbo, which he uses to bridge the gap between Baroque masters like Vivaldi and Ferrari and the popular dances of the era, such as the Canarios.
Beyond historical music, Laguna is known for his interest in contemporary sounds. His work often blends the theorbo with electronic elements like synthesizers and effects pedals. By experimenting with textures ranging from ambient to noise, Laguna demonstrates that the theorbo is not just a relic of the past, but a living instrument capable of driving modern artistic innovation.