Coming Soon: The Romeros Quartet @ The Meyerson (August 12th)
—Laurel Ornish
What name comes to mind when you think of music groups who have been around and active for 60 years--who are still going strong, and continuing to perform for delighted audiences around the world? If you're a rock fan, you'll probably think of the Rolling Stones.
In the classical world, the group whose longevity and fame puts them on par with Mick, Keith, and those British boys is the Romeros Quartet, known as “The Royal Family of the Guitar." The much-loved Quartet celebrates their 60th anniversary this year--and they’re all family members, including their third generation of performers!
The Romeros Quartet, presented by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, will present an anniversary concert at the Meyerson on Friday, August 12, at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, contact: https://www.dallassymphony.org/productions/the-romeros-guitar-quartet/
As individual players or as members of the Quartet, these musicians have been knighted by the King of Spain, received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award, and awarded honorary doctorate degrees. They have been the subject of PBS-TV and European TV documentaries and biographical books, and have received many other recognitions and honors by everyone from the City of Málaga, Spain (hometown to the first and second generations of Romeros) to the Pope!
They are considered to be among the greatest classical guitarists in the world, and their familial affection for each other on stage--as well as for their audiences--is contagious.
They have many fans in North Texas who have heard them play over the years in various permutations, both as the Quartet, and the Quartet with orchestra (DSO, FWSO, and others). Pepe Romero has performed concerts here as a soloist, a chamber musician, and as a guest performer with area orchestras. He was last here in February giving a sold-out recital at the Kimbell Museum in Fort Worth, presented by the Allegro Guitar Socety.
The Quartet was formed after the renowned Spanish guitarist Celedonio Romero was forced to flee persecution by Fascist dictator Francisco Franco and escape to Southern California with his wife and three children in the late 1950s. All three children were boys--Celín, Pepe, and Ángel--and each became a virtuoso guitarist under their father’s tutelage.
The Romeros revolutionized the classical music world with their invention of the guitar quartet format. There are now guitar quartets on many continents, with new compositions and transcriptions constantly being created for the genre. Their unique combined talents led to an international career of concerts, recordings, and TV appearances.
When Ángel left to pursue a strictly solo career, a grandson, Celino, became the fourth member of the Quartet. When Celedonio passed away in 1996, another grandson, Lito, took his place. On occasion, Ángel returns to perform with the group as well. And Pepe Romero, in addition to continuing to perform with the Quartet, has had a phenomenal solo recording and performing career, which is still going strong.
Other Romero grandchildren and great-grandchildren have become successful luthiers (guitar makers), opera singers, and classical pianists.
The Romeros' repertoire ranges from Bach and Vivaldi to premieres of works by contemporary composers with whom they have been very close, including distinguished Spaniards Joaquín Rodrigo (of “Concierto de Aranjuez” fame), Federico Moreno Torroba, and others. Some of the contemporary works they play were written expressly for the Quartet.
The Romeros also excel at flamenco, which originated in their native southern Spain. They have made several flamenco recordings over the years, and helped popularize the genre with classical audiences as part of their white-tie-and-tails concerts. Much Spanish and Spanish-inspired classical music contains flamenco influences.
They place a high priority on education, giving lessons and master classes to students of all ages, including at the 10-day annual Celedonio Romero Guitar Institute held at Oklahoma City University. And they are artists-in-residence and guest teachers at numerous universities and conservatories, both here and abroad. The Romeros are known not only for teaching their students great techniques and tunes, but also for teaching the guitar as a means of communicating love and truth to audiences.
After a hiatus because of the COVID pandemic, during which they continued practicing and giving Zoom concerts, the Quartet members have resumed a full concert and teaching schedule.
Information about the Romeros and Pepe Romero, including concert schedules, can be found on Pepe’s website: https://peperomero.com/
NOTE: The Romeros’ concert at the Meyerson is a performance by the Quartet only, not with the DSO.
Laurel Ornish is a freelance print and broadcast journalist who has known the Romeros for over 30 years, since meeting them when she was an announcer/interviewer/documentary producer on WRR-FM/Classical 101.1, and they were in town giving a concert. She is currently working on a book about them, a memoir. She also dances flamenco and plays castanets (castañuelas) professionally with orchestras and other musical groups. She can be reached at ClassicalTexas@aol.com.
