Ahmed Mukhtar & Ignacio Lusardi Monteverde - Al-Hambra (2025)

Ahmed Mukhtar on the oud, the short-necked lute from the Middle East, and Ignacio Lusardi Monteverde on the flamenco guitar explore the intertwined musical traditions of their two cultures. The compositions unfold as an elegant dialog between the two instruments, weaving intricate melodies and rhythmic subtleties that reflect centuries of cultural exchange. At joint performances in Bahrain, India and Iraq, the duo played Ahmed's

Compositions, improvising freely and developing a deep musical synergy. Ahmed says: "As some oud techniques were challenging for the guitar and vice versa, I composed carefully with both instruments in mind. Even in my taqasim (improvised sections), which are deeply rooted in the Arabic oud tradition, I wanted to incorporate the guitar into this musical language. With "Al-hambra", they create a space in which the voices of the oud and the guitar

Guitar speak to each other as equals, bridging time and tradition with a grace that is both timeless and innovative. Ahmed Mukhtar is an internationally acclaimed oud virtuoso, composer and founder of the Taqasim Foundation and the Taqasim Music School. Ignacio Lusardi Monteverde is a renowned flamenco guitarist, sound engineer and producer and winner of the Musician of the Year Latin UK Award.