Pepe Romero

Celebrated worldwide for his dazzling virtuosity, compelling interpretations, and flawless technique, guitarist Pepe Romero is constantly in demand for his solo recitals, performances with orchestras, and with the world famous Romeros Quartet. Born in 1944 in M�laga, Spain, Pepe Romero is the second son “The Royal Family of the Guitar,” the Romeros. His father, the legendary Celedonio Romero, was his only guitar teacher; his first professional appearance was in a shared concert with his father in Sevilla’s Teatro Lope de Vega, when Pepe was only seven years old. After relocating to the United States, Pepe, together with his father and brothers, helped establish the Romeros Quartet as the leading guitar ensemble in the world. Although best known for his classical performances, Pepe’s passion for the traditional flamenco of his native Andalucia has never wavered. His first recording, Flamenco Fen�meno!, for Contemporary Records, was made when he was only fifteen. Since then, Pepe has made more than fifty recordings, among which are over twenty concertos with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields conducted by Sir Neville Marriner and Iona Brown, as well as collaborations with artists such as the renowned ensemble I Musici, flamenco singer Chano Lobato, and dancers Paco Romero and Mar�a Magdalena.

In spring, 1992, with Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Pepe Romero made a pioneering laser disc of the Concierto de Aranjuez and selected solo works by Joaqu�n Rodrigo. He is also a leading personality in the film documentary Shadows and Light: Joaqu�n Rodrigo at 90, which has received numerous awards, including those from the Chicago International Film Festival, the International Emmy Awards, and the San Francisco International Film Festival. Songs My Father Taught Me, a performance of his father’s favorite and original compositions was his last CD recorded by the Philips label. Recently released is a set of Boccherini quintets for guitar and string quartet, recorded for UNICEF, including a new guitar transcription of M�sica nocturna de Madrid.

Mr. Romero’s contributions in the field of classical guitar have inspired a number of distinguished composers to write works specifically for him, including Joaqu�n Rodrigo, Federico Moreno Torroba, Lorenzo Palomo, Rev. Francisco de Madina, and Celedonio Romero. Rodrigo wrote his last guitar concerto, Concierto para una Fiesta, for Pepe in 1983. Andr�s Segovia and composer Federico Moreno Torroba chose Pepe to record the world premiere of Di�logos entre guitarra y orquestra, originally written for Segovia. In January, 1996, in Berlin, with Rafael Fr�hbeck de Burgos conducting, Pepe Romero premiered Lorenzo Palomo’s Nocturnos de Andalucia and recorded the same a year later. Following the death of his father, Pepe performed the world premiere of his father’s concerto for guitar and orchestra, El Cortijo de Don Sancho, with Michael Palmer conducting the American Sinfonietta. Along with Celin, Lito and Celino Romero he premiered and recorded concerto for four guitars of Lorenzo Palomo, Concierto de Cienfuegos with Rafael Fr�hbeck de Burgos conducting the Real Orquesta Sinf�nica de Sevilla. In February 2002 Pepe Romero performed and recorded live the revival of Metamorfosi de concert by the great Catalonian composer Xavier Montsalvatge with Gianandrea Noseda conducting the Orquesta de Cadaqu�s. In May 2004 Pepe Romero recorded Concerto for guitar and orchestra by Paul Chihara with Sir Neville Marriner and the London Symphony. In June 2005 the Romeros Quartet recorded with the Basque National Orchestra a piece written for them, Concierto Vasco by Francisco de Madina. Also among his latest releases is Generations: The Romeros, a recital CD by the Romeros Quartet including a world premiere recording of Al Maestro by Jorge Morel, a work dedicated by Celedonio Romero and his own composition, Recuerdos del pasado. In spring 2005 a newly recorded recital CD entitled Coraz�n Espa�ol was released on CPA Hollywood Records. In addition, he has premiered major works by such historical composers as Fernando Sor, Mauro Giuliani, Francesco Molino, Ferdinando Carulli, Johann Kaspar Mertz, Luigi Boccherini, and others.

Pepe Romero has been a special guest at the festivals of Salzburg, Israel, Schleswig-Holstein, Menuhin, Osaka, Granada, Istanbul, Ravinia, Garden State, Hollywood Bowl, Blossom, Wolf Trap, and Saratoga. As a member of The Romeros, Pepe has been invited to play at the White House, and at the Vatican for Pope John Paul II; he has also performed for His Royal Highness Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia of Spain, and Queen Beatrice of Holland. In the United States, he has appeared as the featured soloist with the Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, Houston, Pittsburgh, Boston, San Francisco, and Dallas Symphony Orchestras as well as the Orpheus Chamber Ensemble, the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras, the Boston Pops Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. In Europe he has appeared with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, the Monte Carlo Philharmonic, I Musici, the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, the Philharminia Hungarica, the Hungarian State Orchestra, the Spanish National Orchestra, the Spanish National Radio/Television Orchestra, L’Orchestre de la Suisse-Romande, the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, the New Moscow Chamber Orchestra, the American Sinfonietta, and the Bournemouth Symphony. Mr. Romero has collaborated with many of the world’s finest conductors, including Leonard Slatkin, Sir Neville Marriner, Eugene Ormandy, Arthur Fiedler, Lawrence Foster, Jes�s L�pez-Cobos, Rafael Fr�hbeck de Burgos, Andr� Kostelanetz, Michael Palmer, Morton Gould, Miguel G�mez-Mart�nez, Philippe Entremont, and Enrique Jord�.

Pepe Romero is dedicated to passing his art on to future generations. He has
served as Professor of Guitar at the University of Southern California, the University of California at San Diego, Southern Methodist University, and the University of San Diego and frequently teaches master classes in the Salzburg Summer Academy, the Schleswig-Holstein Festival, and the C�rdoba Guitar Festival. Among his students are first prize winners in several international competitions and several of the most brilliant of the younger generation of professional performers. In 2004 he was invited to be Distinguished Artist in Residence at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music where he holds master classes and continues his pedagogic tradition.

Pepe Romero holds an honorary doctorate in music from the University of Victoria, British Columbia. In June of 1996, he received the “Premio Andalucia de M�sica,” the highest recognition given by his native land for his contribution to the arts. In addition, His Majesty, King Juan Carlos I of Spain, has knighted Pepe Romero and his brothers, Celin and Angel into the Order of “Isabel la Cat�lica.” The official ceremony of this high honor took place at the University of Southern California, February 11, 2000, and included a gala performance by The Romeros. A biographical documentary about the Romero family was made by PBS television, “Los Romeros: Royal Family of the Guitar” and was nationally released on September 14, 2001. NDR, the German television channel, released the documentary “Los Romeros, the Dynasty of the Guitar” in 2005 for viewing throughout Europe.