#Canada #Toronto #Emma Rush #Catharina Pratten #Classical Guitar

Emma Rush Revives a Forgotten Guitar Virtuoso

In her latest album, "The Life and Times of Catharina Pratten," renowned classical guitarist Emma Rush breathes new life into the legacy of a 19th-century trailblazer. Celebrated as one of Canada’s leading classical performers, Rush has dedicated this groundbreaking album to Catharina Josepha Pratten, a pioneering figure in the world of classical guitar who has largely been absent from the historical narrative.

Rush describes Pratten as a remarkably prolific artist who made significant contributions to the guitar world. She not only taught Queen Victoria's daughter but also developed new notation practices and creatively tuned her guitar down to D, a concept that would echo through guitar history a century later. "Pratten has been overlooked by history, and I feel it's time to set the record straight," Rush states with determination.

The album features seven works by Pratten that have never before been recorded, alongside compositions by notable figures in her life, including her father, Ferdinand Pelzer, her husband, Robert Sidney Pratten, and her student, Frank Mott Harrison. It also includes music from her contemporaries, such as Francisco Tárrega and Giulio Regondi. Rush aims to contextualize Pratten's influence within the vibrant 19th-century London guitar scene.

Further enriching the album's historical significance, Rush recorded these pieces on two guitars closely associated with Pratten; one bears her personal signature and the other is a rare Boosey & Sons “Pratten model” crafted in the 1850s, touching on the roots of her remarkable journey. This choice highlights the connection between performance and historical scholarship that Rush aims to achieve.

Two standout tracks from the album include “Absence,” characterized by its technical demands and emotional depth, and “Evening Song,” which reflects Pratten's lyrical sensitivity. Emma Rush’s ambition with this album is not just to showcase her virtuosity but to advocate for the visibility of striking yet neglected voices in music history.

This project builds on Rush's notable commitment to promote women composers, evidenced by her 2020 album, Wake the Sigh, which featured rare works by female composers and her 2023 project, A Dream of Colour, which consisted of newly commissioned works inspired by Canadian painter William Blair Bruce. With The Life and Times of Catharina Pratten, Rush not only furthers her commitment to performance but also intertwines it with a scholarly approach and advocacy for historical recognition.

Emma Rush is recognized on international stages, having performed at esteemed events including the Altamira Shanghai International Guitar Festival and Future Echoes in Sweden. Her upcoming 2025–26 tour promises to take her across Canada, Europe, and the United Kingdom, including appearances at the prestigious Iserlohn International Guitar Symposium in Germany.

As Rush passionately encapsulates, “Pratten defined what the guitar represented in Britain during much of the 19th century. It’s time for her to claim her rightful place in the collective musical consciousness of our times.”

Through her innovative work, Emma Rush is not only shining a light on an underappreciated figure in classical music but is also enriching the tapestry of guitar history for generations to come.