Lagoya, Alexandre

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Lagoya, Alexandre

Lagoya, Alexandre, Egyptian-born French guitarist and teacher of Greek and Italian descent; b. Alexandria, June 29, 1929; d. Paris, Aug. 24, 1999. He took up the guitar when he was 8. After making his debut in a recital at 13, he gave numerous concerts throughout the Middle East. In 1948 he went to Paris and pursued his studies with Jean Saudry (guitar) and Villa-Lobos (harmony and counterpoint). Following his marriage to Ida Presti , the couple formed a remarkable guitar duo in 1950 and made frequent tours. Presti died during the couple’s tour of the U.S. in 1967. Lagoya then resumed his solo career and toured throughout the world. He also appeared in concerts with Jean-Pierre Rampai. From 1969 he taught at the Paris Cons. Lagoya and his wife prepared transcriptions of keyboard pieces by various composers of the past. They also commissioned a number of contemporary composers to write works especially for them, including Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Rodrigo, and Jolivet. Lagoya’s solo repertoire extended from the Baroque masters to Claude Boiling.

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire