André Burguete

Lutenist and musicologist

Born in St Petersburg, of Spanish-German extraction, he grew up in Dresden.

Lute, guitar, counterpoint and musicological studies in Weimar and Leipzig. Between 1989 and 1997 he headed the Institute for Lute Research – Akademie Weiss in the Parc de Schoppenwihr near Colmar, France.

André Burguete is chiefly active as a soloist and belongs among the well-known interpreters in his field. In 1991 he was honoured with the RegioMusikpreis in Basel, and in Oxford in 1995 with the European Prize for outstanding cultural Achievement.

Since the age of 20, André Burguete has devoted himself to performance on lute instruments, research into their history and investigation of their repertoire. Practical experience over many years with the original lutes of the 18th century convinced him of their advantages and their limitations.

The restrictions which these instruments impose on the creative impulses schooled in 19th and 20th century music became increasingly oppressive. Given the choice between abandoning the lute and extending its capacities, he decided on the latter. He thus initiated the development of the liuto forte and remains the driving force behind the project.