Joaquín Rodrigo

Joaquín Rodrigo was a prominent 20th-century Spanish composer. Despite losing his sight at age three, he pursued extensive musical studies. Rodrigo achieved widespread acclaim following the 1940 premiere of his Concierto de Aranjuez, which established him as a leading figure in post-Civil War Spanish music. While he is most celebrated for his guitar compositions, including Fantasía para un gentilhombre and Concierto Andaluz, his diverse body of work also encompasses concerti for piano and harp, an opera, a ballet and numerous songs. Beyond his creative output, he served as a musical adviser and held the Manuel de Falla Chair of Music at the Complutense University of Madrid for three decades.