1951: Onstage on this Date

by Cecilia Martini-Muth
May 1, 2020

On May 1, 1951, Andres Segovia performed at the Lobero for the third time.

Segovia is regarded as one of the world’s finest classical guitarists, granting respectability to the guitar as a serious concert instrument with a depth of interpretation.

Andrés Segovia Torres, known as Andrés Segovia, was a virtuoso Spanish classical guitarist from Linares, Spain. Many professional classical guitarists today were students of Segovia or students of his students. Segovia’s contribution to the modern-romantic repertoire not only included commissions but also his own transcriptions of classical or baroque works. He is remembered for his expressive performances: his wide palette of tone, and his distinctive musical personality, phrasing, and style.

“Lean your body forward slightly to support the guitar against your chest, for the poetry of the music should resound in your heart.” – Andres Segovia

He can be credited with dignifying the classical guitar as a legitimate concert instrument before the music public, which had viewed the guitar merely as a parlor instrument. He performed at the Lobero three times, in 1945, 1948, and 1951, and continued giving concert performances past the age of 90.

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