Soul of Spanish Guitar

The guitarist Pablo Sáinz-Villegas embodies "the soul of the Spanish guitar" and is now recognized as one of the world's leading soloists on his instrument. When supreme virtuosity is combined with effortless grace, passion with melancholy, and the six strings of the guitar vibrate as one heartbeat, Pablo Sáinz-Villegas is in his element. On his new album, "Soul of Spanish Guitar," this exceptional artist has selected ten works that hold a special place in his heart. "Spanish music represents the fusion of various influences," he explains, as it brings together "harmonies, rhythms, and melodies from different folk traditions," whether of Arabic, Christian, or other origins. In the music for Spanish guitar, one can recognize "the voice of an entire people," based on centuries of peaceful coexistence among different cultures. Two composers, in particular, are in focus: Francisco Tárrega, with pieces such as "Recuerdos de la Alhambra," "Capricho arabe," "Gran jota de concierto," and "Lágrima," and Isaac Albéniz, with compositions including "Asturias" and "Mallorca." Pablo Sáinz-Villegas, an exclusive artist of Sony Classical, hails from Logroño in the La Rioja region of northern Spain. He has premiered numerous works, including "Rounds," the first composition for guitar by Academy Award-winning composer John Williams. Plácido Domingo, with whom Villegas had the opportunity to collaborate on the successful album "Volver," praises him as a true "master of the guitar." He is celebrated internationally as an ambassador of Spanish culture. Pablo Sáinz-Villegas is the only guitarist invited to perform at the Berlin Philharmonie by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in the past nearly 40 years. Furthermore, he is also the first guitarist to perform at their prestigious New Year's Eve concert since then. In late 2020, under the baton of Kirill Petrenko, he performed Joaquín Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez" at this renowned event.