Ida Presti

Ida Presti ( born May 31, 1924 in Suresnes, France as Yvette Ida Montagnon, † April 24, 1967 in Rochester, United States) was a French guitarist and composer who is considered one of the best classical guitarists of the 20th century.

Presti made ​​her first acquaintance with the classical guitar as a toddler when her father played for her to fall asleep on the guitar. At the age of five years, her father began to teach them piano and guitar, however, they soon decided on the guitar. Later, she was then formed by guitarist and luthier Mario Maccaferri, who also taught in harmony and music theory. At the age of eight, she joined in 1932 for the first time publicly. Two years later she was already Concerts in Paris and was hailed by the press as " female Mozart".

1937 Presti was appointed an honorary member of Les Amis de la Guitare in Paris. The same year she made ​​several recordings for the French record label HMV 1938 they first guitarist ever to be invited to an appearance before the Société des concerts du Conservatoire in Paris. Also in 1938 she appeared in a supporting role as guitarist in the French film Le petit Chose: on (directed by Maurice Cloche ). At the age of 16, she played with a guitar Paginis on a memorial concert on the occasion of his 100th death anniversary

After the Second World War Prestis interrupted career first, it was also known after its end soon internationally. In 1948 she played along with the French National Radio Orchestra, the Concierto de Aranjuez, these studio performance was broadcast on French radio and met with great enthusiasm. Then Presti played the guitar concert with various orchestras in several European cities as well as in Tunis and Algiers in North Africa. In 1951 she appeared for the first time in London with a program that included, among other works of Tárrega, Villa-Lobos, Miguel Llobet and Pujol and was hailed by critics.

Despite their successes Presti was in the 1950s to her career as a soloist and formed instead with guitarist Alexandre Lagoya a duo. She had to know Lagoya 1952 in Paris and learned to love and married the following year. The two were the first world-famous classical guitar duo and gave to the death Prestis over 2000 concerts. Presti died April 24, 1967 in Rochester while preparing for a concert in New York to internal bleeding, was the result of lung cancer.

Emilio Pujol Ida Presti described as a "miracle of talent and grace ." The guitarist and music educator John Duarte looked at as the best guitarist of the 20th century, the combination of a flawless, but soulful game, technological innovation and musical flair remained unmatched.