Fernando Riscado Cordas -Guitar
Fernando Riscado Cordas (Den Haag, 1975) is a leading, contemporary guitarist primarily praised for his virtuosity, lyrical playing and historical knowledge. He is specialised in early 19th century guitar repertoire.
Fernando Cordas concertised - solo and in ensemble - in various countries and worked with several respected and established musicians and composers, such as Zoran Dukic, Laura Young, Henk Neven, Luciano Berio and György Kurtág. He worked with several orchestras, lead by conductors such as Michel Tabachnik, Stefan Asbury, Eduardo Portal, Marcello Bufalini and Reinbert de Leeuw.
In 1999 Fernando Cordas received a special scholarship from the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds to have a personal concert guitar built. The finished instrument was presented early 2000, and built by luthier Nicolaas van der Waals.
In 2003 Fernando Cordas achieved his Masters degree, cum laude and with special distinctions at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague. During his studies he participated in several guitar festivals and took master classes with a long list of renowned guitarists and pedagogues, such as David Russel, Hubert Käppel, Carlo Marchione, Sergio Assad, Roland Dyens and David Starobin.
Through replacing guitar legend Pepe Romero, in a performance of Joaquin Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez, Fernando had further possibilities to continue playing this concerto with various orchestra’s, such as the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg and the Noord Nederlands Orkest. Fernando played this concerto in a live TV broadcast in 2012.
His ongoing research on the role of the guitar in the 19th century and arranging of 19th century compositions for guitar have materialised in several fascinating projects. The most recent is the double CD ‘The Poetic Guitar’ which is published as a luxurious hardcover book. It contains works of Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann and Karel Craeijvanger.
With guitarist Izhar Elias Fernando forms Duo Elias/Cordas since 2005 and is very happy to perform in and outside the Netherlands. Besides this ensemble Fernando performs regularly with Clarinet player, Roeland Hendrikx and singer Orlanda Velez Isidro.
As of 2014 Fernando Cordas teaches at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague where he focuses on the development of young talent and teaches history of the guitar.