Rafael Aguirre is an internationally acclaimed musician whose deep understanding of music, dazzling virtuosity and immensely diverse repertoire has taken him to 33 countries. The beginning of his extraordinary career was marked by winning thirteen first prizes at international competitions (including the Tarrega Competition and Pro Musicis, New York), and he is currently one of the most celebrated guitarists worldwide.

His performances have been hailed as “a blessing” (Mainz Echo); “the future of the concert guitar” (Kultur Port); “one of the most acclaimed ambassadors of the Spanish guitar” (El País); as well as emphasizing his “maturity and intensity” (Ritmo).

Rafael performs regularly in prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall in New York, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Vienna Konzerthaus, Moscow Tchaikovsky Hall, Philharmonie am Gasteig in Munich, Hamburg Laeiszhalle, Palau de la Musica in Barcelona, King’s Place London, Saint Petersburg Philharmonia, Cuba’s National Theatre, the Hyogo Performing Arts Center (Japan) and the Seoul Arts Center (South Korea).

He has been pre-nominated for a Latin Grammy and has received enthusiastic reviews by Gramophone, The Strad and Crescendo Magazine, also appearing on broadcasts by international radios such as the BBC, NPR, CBS, Radio Stephansdom de Viena, Radio Berlin Brandenburg, HR Hessische Rundfunk, la Bayerische Rundfunk, NDR, MDR, Radio Nacional de España and The New Classical FM (Toronto).

Ricardo Gallén is a distinguished guitarist with a continuously flourishing career. His inspiring and innovative interpretations place him on the top musicians, while his revolutionary and influential playing and teaching are the best proof of his quality.

“Immense creativity and virtuosity, which is sensed by just looking at his hands”, the words of Maestro Leo Brouwer raise Ricardo Gallén to a level of mastery very rarely seen.

His rare combination of virtuosity and musicianship has captivated audiences around the world in solo recitals, duets or with orchestras in great concert halls such as the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the National Auditorium in Madrid, the Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, the Auer Hall in Indiana University and the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki among others.

Ricardo Gallén has performed numerous Premiers of world known composers and participated in several projects under the direction of important conductors such as Maximiano Valdes, En Shao, Juan José Mena, Monica Huggett, Leo Brouwer, Jordi Savall and Seirgiu Comisiona.

Ricardo has won numerous awards in important music competitions (Francisco Tárrega, Andrés Segovia, Markneukirchen among others) and held several teaching positions. In 2009 he received the honor of becoming one of the youngest musicians to obtain a professorship in the prestigious University of Music “Franz Liszt” in Weimar, Germany, a position that he holds until today.

Ricardo Gallén is being a jury member in several international guitar competitions and he is giving Master Classes with great response.

His recordings, since his very first album, receive sensational reviews. His last works of the Bach Complete Lute Works and Fernando Sor – Guitar Sonatas as well as his album En Silencio are being widely approved as masterpieces by the specialised press.

Recently he has been awarded the Medal of Fine Arts by the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Granada, Spain.