Interview with Dávid Pavlovits

Wrocław Guitar Festival is in course, during which you have the opportunity to listen to great guitarists from different sides of the world. The Festival also offers master classes with the artists. One of them is Dávid Pavlovits, who gave us an interview. We encourage you to read it!

1. You decided to take guitar lessons relatively late, you were 17 at that time. How had you imagined your future before you started playing guitar?
 

D.P. I was preparing for medical university. I was also into judo, computer programming and drawing. My father had great vision seeing me as a doctor in future. After playing guitar, I could imagine this less and less. We had endless discussions. Finally, I won.

2. Eventually, you decided on music. Why?
 
D.P. Music just took me away into some unknown. I didn't choose music because I knew I will make such a carrier. I just became obsessed. 

3. Already after 3 years of learning you won the International Guitar Competition in Żory. How did you manage to achieve it?
 
D.P. I won only a special award, not the first prize! It was the prize for interpretation of a piece by BARTŁOMIEJ BUDZYŃSKI, he was in the jury too.
 
4. What style do you feel most comfortable in?
 
D.P. Probably contemporary, Renessaince and Baroque. But it changes from time to time.
 
5. You are not only a great performer but you also compose. What inspires you?
 
D.P. Mostly people, dreams, absurde situations. Sometimes also movies, painting and poems.
 
6. Who is your Master?
 
D.P. My most important teachers were the pianist Grigory Gruzman, the composer György Kurtág and for the guitar Tilman Hoppstock and Ede Roth. But I had many other teachers I am grateful to.
 
7. You have your own Masters, but you are also a Master for others. You teach at the University of Szeged and you give master classes in various countries. In your opinion the understanding and interpretation of guitar music in Europe is different than in America or perhaps you believe that guitarists in both continents speak the same musical language?
 
D.P. Interpretation is a culture and temperament-based issue. So of course it is very different. Europe has an immense musical heritage, depth in analysis, and the advantage of drawbacks of this huge knowledge. South America on the guitar for example is more instinctive, often less educated, but very natural.
 
8. Guitar, composing or teaching. Could you decide on one?
 
D.P. As a musician, you can survive these days only by being versatile in activity.
 
9. Currently you are in Poland participating in Wrocław Guitar Festival Gitara +. What are your plans after the Festival? When can we expect you again in Poland?
 
D.P. I am preparing a new CD with my works. I have another trip to China, and an invitation from New Zeeland. I am also working on my new series 'Book of Preludes'.

Polish version