Flavio Sala on the Current State of Classical Guitar

By: Dr. Matt Warnock

Flavio Sala doesn’t hold back, in his playing or with his words. The multi-talented guitarist, who weaves his music between the classical guitar and world-music genres, is taking a stand on the current state of classical guitar. Tired of the same old repertoire, and the same old attitude that often relegates the instrument to the back of the classical music classroom, Sala is taking his music in new and exciting directions, and letting his thoughts be heard on why classical guitar doesn’t get the respect it deserves.

Flavio Sala recently spoke candidly with Guitar International about the current state of classical guitar, his thoughts on repertoire and his go to gear and guitars.

Flavio Sala in Concert

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On the Current State of Classical Guitar

Matt Warnock: You’ve studied classical guitar with some of the biggest names in the business, but you also mix in popular styles into your recordings. What attracts you to the Samba rhythm and other Brazilian music?

Flavio Sala: I started my classical music studies at the age of 8. Growing up I fell in love with flamenco, later with jazz, Latin jazz, etc. I discovered that the music world was much bigger than I thought. So I started thinking that it would be nice to listen to different kinds of music during a single concert.

Now that I’m programming longer concerts, this concept has come true and I can play what I feel and prefer in that moment, which could be a piece from any style or genre of music. Also, nowadays the audience is very different than before, everyone is used to listening to hundreds of styles at the same time, therefore a whole concert of classical guitar music could just be boring, even if they are very good performers.

My new album, De La Buena Onda, is a project that I shared with several worldwide musicians from classical, jazz, flamenco, pop and Latin jazz. In a case like this, the music speaks louder than words, and people can really understand where I’m coming from by checking out the record or one of my concerts.

Matt: Do you feel that you are pushed aside at all by the classical guitar community because you experiment with other genres and don’t just play the standard repertoire?

Flavio: Absolutely. When I was child I used to dream of becoming part of the classical guitar community. But now, I must say that I’ve never felt that I was a part of it. I always felt that the classical guitar world became something like a “closed community” as well. That classical guitar was pushed aside by the classical music world in general, due to the fact that there are many bad performers, lack of repertoire, subpar composers, bad guitar festivals etc.

I spent a lot of time practicing and playing classical repertoire in my concerts and tours, but suddenly I realized that each place has its functional repertoire. I saw quite well known guitarists playing Villa-Lobos Studies and Brouwer compositions in a popular party like they were in the Carnegie Hall. That was just ridiculous.

People were drinking, eating, enjoying the party but I was asking “What is going on?” Personally, I feel that the classical guitar died on June 3, 1987. Now it is time to change. It’s time to stop focusing our efforts on what we like to play, and start understanding how we can make people fall in love with the classical guitar instead.

Matt: Do you feel that in order for the classical guitar to survive in today’s modern climate it needs to become more integrated into popular and folk music?

Flavio: Absolutely. Guitarists should not close their eyes and live their lives as if the traditional classical guitar repertoire is the best in the world. Come on, the world is full of beautiful music. We just need to open our minds, discover it and share it with people.

Guitars and Gear

Matt: When playing in an ensemble do you use a pickup and an amp, or do you go direct through a PA?

Flavio: I always use my own microphone with a PA and mixing board, in an ensemble or as soloist. When possible, I also use a mixer on the stage. The problem finding a good sound engineer that works in the concert halls where most nylon-string guitarists play these days.

Matt: Who makes your guitar and do you have several guitars that you play at once, or do you like to just play one guitar at a time?

Flavio: My guitar was built in 2006 by Camillo Perrella, an Italian guitar-maker. He’s a genius, he can make just about anything out of a single piece of wood.

I also use a shell, built by Camillo, in carbon and wood that covers the back of the guitar, to increase the power of sound. You can me performing on this guitar during the videos of mine on YouTube.