William Carter

William Carter - baroque guitar

"What most strikes you about William Carter is the sheer force of his musical imagination" writes William Yeoman in Gramophone.

Born in Florida, Carter received a thorough training as a modern guitarist with Bruce Holzman at The Florida State University before falling in love with the earlier plucked instruments and the world of historical performance. Following initial guidance from Pat O'Brien in New York City, he travelled to London as a Fulbright Scholar where he studied the Lute with Nigel North and quickly established himself as one of the leading players on old instruments.

Concert tours and festival appearances followed throughout Europe, Asia and North and South America both as an orchestral player and as a chamber musician and soloist with his own group, Palladians. Carter has an extensive discography (including 10 CD's with Palladians) and has featured on numerous recordings of the Academy of Ancient Music and The English Concert, for both of which he acts as principal lutenist.

He is also an enthusiastic teacher and is Professor of Baroque Studies and Lute at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. 2005 saw a new development in Carter's career as his exploration of the world of the baroque guitar led to the release of his first solo album La Guitarre Royalle: The music of Francesco Corbetta (Linn CKD 185) which has been widely praised and named in Gramophone's ‘Critic's Choice' list for 2005.  In 2007 Carter released his second solo album on Linn "La Guitarra Espanola" (Linn CKD 288) which was awarded Gramophone Editor's Choice.

William Carter's previous albums have won great critical acclaim:

This is a wonderful disc... a real flamenco inspired tour-de-force Gramophone

This is that rare and perfect thing, a pioneering recording where the historical interest is fully matched by the quality of the music and performance... one of 2005's real gems. International Record Review

The compelling artistry of William Carter makes this often complex music sound disarmingly simple and natural, making each and every movement a unique and treasurable listening experience. Classic FM Magazine

Mr. Carter performs with agility and eloquence on a first solo disc with as much appeal for fans of Eric Clapton as those of John Williams. The Observer

Carter's sound is gorgeous... the playing is faultless... helps introduce a guitarist of the highest stature. Fanfare