The young guitarist Shilong Fan (Beijing, 23 years old), big winner of the Andrés Segovia International Classical Guitar Competition, has left a mark on Granada that transcends technique. His precise and sensitive touch displayed not only the academic rigor he learned in Munich, but also an intuition open to duende.
In his recital at the San Juan de Dios Museum – House of the Pisain the Guitar Festival, alternated classic pages of Granados, Falla or Giménez with the unmistakable pulse of Paco de LucíaIt was a journey between eras and styles that resonated naturally with a devoted audience. His reading of the Poetic Waltzes Granados's work, which Fan described as "emotions chained together in the form of a dance."
Between the classic and the jondo
Although Fan defines himself as a classical guitarist, he confesses his fascination with the flamenco: «I don't study it formally, but I like it a lot. In China, the classical guitar is popular, but the flamenco "It is even more so." This statement is echoed in his approach to Paco de Lucía's works, interpreted with respect and admiration, like someone seeking to build bridges between two worlds.
The closing of his concert was unexpected: Just My FlowerA Chinese piece for guitar that sounded like a cante Intimate, full of lyricism, it drew a prolonged ovation. It was the icing on the cake for an evening seemingly simple, but charged with emotion and authenticity.
Granada, land of guitars
Fan feels a special connection to Granada, a city he associates with both his concerts and his instrument, built by a master guitar maker from Granada. "It's fantastic, and it accompanies me at every recital," he says proudly. This connection with the instrument's artisanal tradition connects his own journey with the city's living memory, where the guitar is almost a symbol of identity.
A career on the rise
Initially trained by his father and then for a decade in Beijing with the master Chen Ju, Shilong Fan continues his studies today at the University of Music and Theatre Munich (HMTM) with the teacher Franz HalászAfter winning first prize at the Andrés Segovia Competition—where he had already achieved third place in two previous editions—Fan has also been honored with the Diego Martínez Audience Award and the Fundación Hispania Música – Concerto Málaga Award, recognitions that will open up new venues for him in Europe.
His dream, he says, is to continue growing and becoming known worldwide: "I want to be a recognized guitarist and share my music with more audiences." And he says this with a smile, like someone who already holds the germ of the spirit in his hands.
