Listening to Frans is a rare and unique way to experience the sound of the guitar, calling up our deepest and most moving emotions.

Who is Frans Brekelmans?

When I was 17, I began following the Rotterdam Conservatory’s preparatory year (Pavane Milan en Gavotte en Rondeau Bach Breda 1976)1976). I studied with Dick Hoogeveen, the Conservatory’s senior guitar professor, and I graduated with a degree in performance and qualified for the “Docent B” degree ( Villa Lobos Cadens gitaarconcert Live Pauluskerk Rotterdam 1982). After graduating I relocated to Amsterdam and studied privately with Toyohiko Satoh, senior professor of lute at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague.

In addition to the standard repertoire of the classical guitar, I also studied the instrument known as the “manche theorbe”, which was invented by the French guitarist Roger Généraux (1941-1978). With this instrument, the addition of seven strings known as “bourdon strings” allow the guitarist to play music written for the lute (video’s Weiss 1. Entrée 2.Courante 3.Sarabande 4.Presto, Partie A-dur 1987).I continued to perform with this instrument until I had explored all of its potential and limitations (Bach BWV 1010 Sarabande manche theorbe in 1998 and Kapsberger Toccata, both in the chapel De Liefde) before returning to focus on the classical guitar.