Agustín Barrios Mangore

Agustín Barrios Mangoré was a Paraguayan classical guitarist and composer, best known for his contribution to the classical guitar repertoire. Born in San Juan Bautista, Paraguay, he grew up in a family that valued the arts and encouraged his musical education. Beyond music, Barrios wrote poetry and spoke several languages, including Spanish, Guarani, English, French and German. His compositions combine a late-Romantic style with influences from the popular music of South and Central America. During the early twentieth century, he toured internationally, often performing under the name “Nitsuga Mangoré” while wearing traditional Paraguayan dress. His historical recordings offer an early example of recorded classical guitar performance and reveal his virtuosity and spontaneity. His music gained wider recognition after his death.