From Spain: guitarist Pablo Sáinz-Villegas

Acclaimed as the successor of Andrés Segovia, Pablo Sáinz-Villegas has become known as the leading virtuoso of the symphonic guitar. Since his debut with the New York Philharmonic under Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos at Lincoln Center, he has performed in more than 40 countries with orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Israel Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic and the National Orchestra of Spain.

Along with his artistic achievements, Sáinz-Villegas serves as an ambassador of Spanish culture around the world. “I do what I do because I believe and have experienced a better world through music in our lives,” said Sáinz-Villegas, a native of La Rioja in northern Spain. “Music is a perfect vehicle to tell stories, transmit values, erase borders, celebrate diversity and bring people together by sharing our emotions.”

In 2006, Sáinz-Villegas founded the philanthropic project Legacy of Music Without Borders, with a mission of promoting understanding among cultures. Through this project, he has shared his music with more than 32,000 children and youth in Spain, Mexico and United States.

After making a spectacular CSO debut in 2019, Sáinz-Villegas returns to Symphony Center to perform what many regard as the definitive concerto for guitar, Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, in concerts Nov. 6-8, under Riccardo Muti, Music Director Emeritus for Life.