Morgan Remaj to play classical concert featuring 14-string theorbo at Museum of the Great Southern in Albany

Perth musician Morgan Remaj, who has made a name for himself in in Europe, is coming to Albany next week to play a classical concert that will include the debut of a new guitar piece.

Remaj will take his audience on a musical journey from the Renaissance to the Romantic period, with the addition of 20th-century pieces, during his performance at the Museum of the Great Southern Co-Op Building next Wednesday.

He has performed at festivals including the Villers-Bretonneux Festival in France and the Brighton Early Music Festival in the UK.

During his show next week Remaj will play 20th-century music classical guitar solos from France, Japan and England, as well as music from the 17th and 18th century on the theorbo, an instrument similar to a lute.

“It’s a 14-string instrument, so it’s a very unusual instrument to see,” he said.

“I don’t think that anyone’s ever played one in WA before except when I played it in Perth a few weeks ago.

“I’m almost sure that it will be the first time in Albany.”

The WA Academy of Performing Arts graduate started playing the theorbo when he moved to Europe six years ago to further his musical studies in Basel, Switzerland.

“I sort of felt called to do it, and I just kind of fell in love with the bass register, it’s not so different to classical guitar technique,” Remaj said.

“It really has improved my life as a musician.

“I would say it’s led to much more collaborations with other European-based artists and so I’m excited to share it with people on this Australian tour.”

During his performance next week, Remaj will also debut a new piece of music for the guitar by Basel-based composer Joelle Gotz.

After his Albany show, Remaj will play in Bridgetown on July 23, which will be followed by performances in Canberra on August 5 and Sydney on August 6.

He will return to his base in Europe at the end of August, where he is scheduled to perform in an opera in the Alsace region of France in September.

For tickets, visit paperbarks.com.au.