Classical guitarist Michael Butten presents an album devoted to John Dowland, brilliantly recorded by the classical guitar expert recording engineer John Taylor.

John Dowland (1563-1626) is recognized as the greatest English composer of lute music and songs. His career as a leading musician of his age was intricate and at times the precise details of his activities become obscure. Butten presents a collection of Dowland’s most popular and beautiful songs arranged for the classical guitar. A whole disc of Dowland performed on classical guitar is rare, usually heard on the lute, so FHR are pleased to be able to present this album. In this recording, Butten plays with a very beautiful sound, incredible colours, lovely melodic phrasing and immaculate control of tone, which draws you right in. This is a spellbinding album, wonderfully recorded. The British guitarist Michael Butten studied at the Junior Royal Academy of Music, London. In his first year he won the Julian Bream Prize, adjudicated by Julian Bream, and, when leaving the Academy he was awarded the David Russell Prize. On completing his BMus degree with 1st class honours, he received the Regency Awards for Notable Achievement and in 2014, as a postgraduate with a scholarship from Help Musicians UK, he became the first guitarist ever to win the RAM Club Prize. He was the 1st prize winner at the 2016 Ivor Mairants Guitar Award, and is a Yeoman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. Recent successes include 1st prize at the Pleven Guitar Competition 2018 and at Leicester Musicfest 2018, as well as his BBC Radio 3 debut solo recital at St Magnus International Festival in Orkney.