By: Zenab Saeed ~Staff Writer~

Xavier welcomed internationally- renowned classical guitarist Judicaël Perroy as part of the Music Department’s Music Series. The concert was held on Jan. 25 to an ecstatic audience.

Perroy was born in Paris in 1973. He began his guitar career at age 7, after being recognized as a prodigy, and has received great acclaim ever since. He both plays guitar and teaches. Perroy currently resides in Paris, where he teaches classical guitar as a professor at a number of institutions, tours and performs concerts around the world.

His two-hour performance on Jan. 25, which took place at the Gallagher Student Center Theatre, featured brilliant executions of seven songs. He began with Luigi Legnani’s “Fantasia op. 19,” a beautiful piece that instantly impressed and captivated audience members.

Perroy continued with Bach’s “Lute Suite no. 2,” which showcased his passion, diverse abilities as a guitarist and seemingly effortless mastery of a complex piece. Next, he played a version of Alexandre Scriabine’s “Prelude and Nocturne for the Left Hand, Op. 9,” arranged by Antoine Fougeray, one of his students. For his final song before the intermission,

Perroy diverged from the program and amazed audience members with a brilliant performance of an M.M. Ponce composition arranged by Segovia. After the intermission, Perroy picked up with Toru Takemitsu’s “Equinox,” a hauntingly beautiful and emotional piece.

He continued with M.M. Ponce’s “Theme and variations and fuga on La Folia,” which alternated between moments of captivating intensity and melodic gentleness. Perroy ended with Johannes Dubez’s “Fantasie on a Hungarian theme” for which he received overwhelming applause and a standing ovation, to which he responded with an encore performance.

Overall, Perroy’s recital was brilliant, with each song just as beautiful as the next. Perroy’s passion for music resounded beautifully from his guitar, and audience members were amazed at the conclusion of his performance. “I would say that Perroy plays with an intensity of purpose — a huge intensity of purpose. And his warm tone and presence engaged listeners easily,” audience member Kathy Hibbard, who frequently attends the music performances of Xavier’s Music Series, said.  “I thought he was really good because as someone who is about to learn guitar, having to do different things in both hands looks really complicated. I think he had a wonderful performance and I think that people should listen to his music. I know I will and will probably get his CD online or something,” junior music major Laura DeBrunner said.

In February and March, Xavier is set to host classical pianist Bruce Brubaker, classical guitarist Marcin Dylla, the Anderson and Roe piano duo, the Banu Gibson Jazz Band and classical pianist Stephen Hough. As for Perroy, he delivered a perfectly marvelous performance.