Biography
Critical Acclaim
Discography
The Shop
The Romeros Video Documentary
Coming soon!! Please check back for availability
Born into the world of classical guitar and gifted with the talent of woodworking, Pepe Romero found his calling not in only playing, but in building guitars. 
Pepe Romero, Luthier
For more than 40 years, “The Romeros” have recorded exclusively for Philips, Mercury and CPA Hollywood Records, Inc.
Romero's music on Amaz - See more at: http://www.pricerubin.com/classical/index.php?summarynumber=613#sthash.iChrC5aw.dpuf
The Dynasty
Celedonio
Composer, guitarist and poet, Celedonio Romero was born on March 2, 1913, in Málaga, Spain. He studied classical guitar at the Conservatory of Málaga, and later at the Conservatory of Madrid, where he was a pupil of Joaquín Turina. He first performed in public at the age of 10. After his formal debut at age 22 he played widely in Spain, France and Italy.
The late Joaquín Rodrigo, one of Spain's greatest composers, said of Celedonio Romero: "He has contributed immensely through his artistic interpretations for classical guitar music. More importantly, he has enlarged and enriched the repertoire of 20th century music with his own compositions".
Deprived of artistic freedom under the oppressive government of Generalissimo Francisco Franco, Celedonio escaped with his family to the United States in 1957. Within two years the family settled in Southern California and Celedonio created a guitar quartet with his sons Celin, Pepe and Angel--The Romeros. Celedonio’s voluminous discography, both in solo recordings and with the quartet on the Delos and Philips labels, brought his music to an ever-widening audience around the world.
Celedonio Romero was highly decorated for his contributions to Spanish culture and to the world of the classical guitar. King Juan Carlos I knighted Celedonio into the “Orden de Isabel la Católica”. He received many other high honors and awards from leaders around the world including “Caballero del Santo Sepulcre” ("Knight of the Holy Sepulcher") given by His Holiness Pope John Paul II (for which he is subsequently addressed as Sir Celedonio Romero), the Gold Medal of the Japan Festivals, the “Placa” given by the Red Cross of Mexico, the “Insignia de Santiago el Mayor”, and the “Artista de Honor y Amigo de San Diego” given by the Mexican and American Foundation. For his 80th Birthday, gala celebrations were held in Málaga, Seville, Berlin, London and San Diego. The city of Málaga named him “Hijo Predilecto con la Medalla de Oro” and created a museum and foundation in his name. In 1995 Celedonio was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Victoria, British Columbia.
Much of the credit for today's high regard for the classical guitar can be attributed to the work of Celedonio Romero. His compositions for classical guitar, numbering over 100 and including a dozen concerti, have emerged as masterpieces for the guitar. Once an instrument used only for folk music, the guitar is now firmly established in the symphonic setting and is a favorite for recitals in cultural arts performance series. Celedonio Romero was known and respected around the world, and The Celedonio Romero Method for the Classical Guitar is taught in Master and Doctoral programs at conservatories and universities worldwide.
Celin
The illustriuos career of The Romeros is one of the great success stories of twentieth century music. Celin Romero is one of the founding members of this internationally renowned ensemble, known to millions as “the Royal Family of the Guitar”. Throughout four decades Celin has proven to be a man of noble bearing who is noted for the virtuosity and elegance with which he performs.
Season after season, in countless appearances, he demonstrates his own personal style, as a soloist, with orchestra, in duo recitals with his brother Pepe or son Celino, and as a member of the famous quartet. The Angeles Times noted “Celin, the oldest son, wove another intoxicating spell with dazzling technical figurations…”
In February 2000 King Juan Carlos I of Spain, knighted Celin and his brothers with the "Gran Cruz de la Orden de Isabel de la Cathólica". As a member of The Romeros he has been invited to play at the White House, has performed at the Vatican for His Holiness Pope John Paul II, and has performed for the Prince of Wales and the King of Spain.
Celin Romero was born on November 28, 1936, in Málaga, Spain and is the elderest son of Maestro Celedonio Romero and Angelita Ines Romero. Upon reaching the age of two or three Celin Romero began learning the guitar from his father, the legendary Celedonio Romero. He had made his professional debut in his native Spain by the time he was seven years old at the Radio National de España.
Despite his busy concert schedule Celin Romero currently holds positions as a Professor of Music and Guitar at the University of California, San Diego, and San Diego State University. Music students from as far as Istanbul, Belgrade, Düsseldorf and Moscow come to San Diego to seek out the expertise of Maestro Celin Romero. Many of his students have become successful themselves. Additionally, Celin Romero has also been several times invited as judge for the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) in California.
Celin’s voluminous discography as one of the Romeros spans the history of music from the Renaissance to the present. They have inspired distinguished composers such as Joaquín Rodrigo, Federico Moreno Torroba, Morton Gould, Francisco de Madina and others to contribute works for the guitar quartet. Celin Romero has performed in every major city in the United States, Europe, and the Far East, and with virtually every major symphony orchestra in the United States.
Pepe
Celebrated world wide for his thrilling interpretations and flawless technique, guitarist Pepe Romero is constantly in demand for his solo recitals and performances with orchestra. His contributions to the field of classical guitar have inspired a number of distinguished composers to write works specifically for him, including Joaquín Rodrigo, Federico Moreno Torroba, Rev. Francisco de Madina, Lorenzo Palomo and Celedonio Romero.
Born on March 8, 1944 in Málaga, Spain, Pepe Romero is the second son of the legendary Celedonio Romero who was his only guitar teacher. His first professional appearance was in a shared concert with his father when Pepe was only seven years old.
His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain knighted Pepe Romero and his brothers, Celin and Angel, into the Order of "Isabel la Catolica". The official ceremony for this high honor took place at the University of Southern California on February 11, 2000 and included a gala concert by The Romeros. Pepe Romero has also received the "Premio Andalucia de Müsica", the highest recognition given by his homeland for his contribution to the arts. He holds an honorary doctorate in music from the University of Victoria, British Columbia.
As a soloist Pepe Romero has appeared in the United States with the Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, Houston, Pittsburgh, Boston, San Francisco and Dallas Symphony Orchestras, as well as with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras, the Boston Pops Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. Orchestras with whom he has appeared in Europe and Great Britain include the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, the Monte Carlo Philharmonic, I Musici, the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Hungarica, the Hungarian State Orchestra, the Spanish National Orchestra, the Spanish National Radio/Television Orchestra, L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the New Moscow Chamber Orchestra, the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, the American Sinfonietta and the Bournemouth Symphony. He has been a special guest at the festivals of
Salzburg, Israel, Schleswig-Holstein, Menuhin, Osaka, Granada, Istanbul, Ravinia, Garden State, Hollywood Bowl, Blossom, Wolf Trap and Saratoga.
Pepe Romero is dedicated to passing along his knowledge of the guitar through his many students, many of them first-prize winners at international guitar competitions. He has been Professor of Guitar at several universities and has taught annual master classes at the Salzburg Summer Academy, at the Schleswig-Holstein Festival and at the Córdoba Guitar Festival.
Angel
Hailed as the Spanish maestro of the guitar, Angel Romero is known throughout the world as one of the leading performers of his generation and continues in the tradition of great guitar virtuosos like Segovia and his father Celedonio Romero.
In demand for his extraordinary artistry - both musically and aesthetically - as a guitarist and a conductor, Maestro Romero performs regularly in major cultural centers worldwide, including London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Madrid, Munich, Zurich, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. Audiences have listened to mesmerizing performances with Angel conducting the orchestra with The Romeros as the featured soloists, their virtuosity and exhilarating interpretations, which is so unique in the world of guitar, only grows in familial splendor under his baton.
He has appeared as a recitalist and a soloist with such leading orchestras as the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic, the New World Symphony, and the Royal Concertgebouw. Having studied under the baton of Maestro Eugene Ormandy, Maestro Romero has conducted major orchestras including the Pittsburgh Symphony and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, with which he has recorded his latest CD of Vivaldi Concertos. Regardless of his role, his driving intensity and flawless control mark him as a true master of the arts.
Born in Malaga, Spain, Angel Romero made his professional debut at the age of 6 and his United States debut at the Hollywood Bowl when he was 16. In 1991 he gave the world premiere performance of Joaquin Rodrigo's Rincones de España at New York's Lincoln Center.
In addition, Maestro Romero is noted for his activities in the movie industry. For his work on this film Mr. Romero was awarded the ARIEL, Mexico’s equivalent of the Oscar in the category of music written originally for film.
Angel Romero has recorded exclusively for RCA Victor Red Seal and RCA Victor worldwide. Other performances by Maestro Romero can be heard on four Telarc recordings and 14 Angel/EMI recordings, and more recently, Delos.
In 1986 Maestro Romero was given Spain's Grand Cross of Civil Merit, becoming the youngest such honoree to date. On Feb. 11, 2000 in honor of his astounding accomplishments, the Maestro was presented with Spain’s highest honor as he was knighted Sir Angel Romero.
Celino
Celino Romero displays a virtuosity synonymous with the Romero name. He has dazzled countless audiences playing solo, with major orchestras, in duo performances with father Celin, his uncle Pepe, or cousin Lito, and as a member of "The Romeros" quartet. His appearances worldwide include the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall and Metropolitan Museum, the Auditorio Nacional (Madrid), Gewandhaus (Leipzig), Concert Hall (Seoul), Cultural Center Concert Hall (Hong Kong) and Musikverein (Vienna). One critic called Celino and Pepe Romero "artistic blood brothers who are so closely matched."
Celino Romero is the youngest member of the world-renowned classical guitar quartet, "Los Romeros" but he has proved to be a true concert veteran with numerous brilliant performances. With the introduction of Celino into the quartet in 1990, their music has spanned three generations of virtuosity. After Celino's quartet debut, The New York Times observed: "One of the enduring mysteries of musical talent is how skills seem to flow genetically from musical parent to musical child. In the Romero family, the flow has been swift and unimpeded. The virtuosity of the four Romeros was uniformly solid and finely considered, as if these techniques had derived from a single mold".
In their review The Ann Arbor News declared Celino as "a young prince among three kings of the guitar". Celino's journey on the guitar began at the young age of three, under the careful tutelage of his legendary grandfather, Celedonio, and his famous father, Celin. Celino's early start in the instrument is the same pedagogical process that has established the cornerstone of the Romero technique.
Celino can also be credited with bringing new audiences to the world of classical guitar, as he is extremely popular amongst college audiences throughout the United States. His performances at fine arts series in major cities include the Metropolitan Museum and Carnegie Hall in New York, the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena, the Teatro Real in Madrid and Palacio de la Música in Barcelona, the Herkulessaal, Gewandhaus, and Musikhalle in Germany and the Musikverein in Vienna. His performances have also brought him to stages in Copenhagen, Paris, London, Madrid, Seoul, Hong Kong, Amsterdam, Milan, Vienna, Salzburg, Warsaw, and Turkey. A recent performance of Rodrigo's "Concerto de Aranjuez" at one of the most prestigious music festivals of Spain, "Cuevas de Nerja", brought him tremendous acclaim as one of the greatest virtuosos of the guitar. Highlights of the summer of 2002 included a very successful performance with Maestro Lockhart and the San Francisco Symphony in Davies Hall.
Lito
Lito Romero is the newest member of the renowned Romeros Quartet, whose illustrious history is unmistakably a milestone of twentieth century music. Celedonio Romero, with his sons Celin, Pepe and Angel, founded the internationally renowned ensemble known to millions as “The Royal Family of the Guitar.”
With the introduction of Angel’s son Lito, replacing Celedonio upon his death in 1996, and together with his cousin Celino, The Romeros encompass three generations of virtuosity. With an outstanding sense for ensemble playing, Lito has proven in numerous performances to be a worthy successor of his grandfather in the family’s quartet. Since the age of 19 Lito has performed in concert with his father, Angel Romero, in Tokyo, Madrid, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Seoul, Mexico City, Puerto Rico, and in various music festivals including the Blossom Music Festival. In 1988 he joined his father in recording A Touch of Class for Telarc, and in 1995 they recorded Vivaldi’s guitar concertos with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-fields for the RCA label. His first public appearance as a soloist was performing the “Concierto de Aranjuez” by Joaquin Rodrigo with the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra in 1991 and his first solo recital was during the 1994-95 season.
Proud to carry on the family tradition, Lito and his cousin Celino display the virtuosity synonymous with the name Romero. To have so many virtuosi of the same instrument in one family is unique in the music world, and in the realm of the classical guitar it is absolutely without precedent. The New York Times observed "One of the enduring mysteries of musical talent is how skills seem to flow genetically from musical parent to musical child. In the Romero family, the flow has been swift and unimpeded. The virtuosity of the four Romeros was uniformly solid and finely considered, as if these techniques had derived from a single mold". - See more at: http://www.pricerubin.com/classical/index.php?summarynumber=613#sthash.iChrC5aw.dpuf
The History
1960-1990: Celedonio, Celin, Pepe & Angel
The world's first guitar quartet --Is formed as the magic of their unique sound enchants audiences worldwide in all the major concert halls.
The Romeros at New York’s Lincoln Center
The Romeros 1963
The Romeros in rehearsal
The Romeros 1965
The Romeros 1975
1990-1996: Celedonio, Celin, Pepe, Celino
Time brings about change as The Romeros continue to spin their magic and dazzle audiences around the world. As Angel departs to pursue his solo career, the torch is passed to a third generation of Romeros as Celino joins the quartet and the tradition continues. A critic remarked: "...scientists know how to clone sheep and the Romeros know how to clone virtuosos."
Three Generations of Romero Virtuosos
The Romeros in Concert
Record Signing in Hong Kong, 1994
Harmony, Love and Excitement in The Romero Quartet
Grandfather Celedonio and Grandson Celino
1996-present: Celin, Pepe, Celino & Lito
The first tour of the Romero quartet in 1960 marked a revolution in music. Since then, the Romero quartet has evolved through several stages which proved remarkable to tens of thousands of listeners. Forty years later, the family, with two young members, Celino and Lito, continue to enrapture musical audiences. Their musicianship is stellar, exiting, bold, yet always cerebral. It is a unique phenomenon to have six members of the same family so brilliant and successful in both ensemble and as soloists.
One of the last appearances of matriarch Angelita Romero during an encore performance in Dallas, Texas, 1999
The Romeros with fans in Seoul, Korea, May 2000
During the premier recording of "Concierto de Cienfuegos" with composer Lorenzo Palomo, Seville, Spain, June 2001
During a recording session with Philips producer Wilhelm Hellweg
Romeros in private
Milestones
For over 40 years three generations of Romeros have inspired composers to enrich the orchestral repertoire of four guitars. "Collectively, they are the only classical guitar quartet of real stature in the world today; in fact, they virtually invented the format."
Recording following the world premiere of Joaquin Rodrigo's "Concierto Andaluz" the San Antonio Symphony, the first concerto written for four guitars
The Romeros with Maestro Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra
World premiere and subsequent recording of Lorenzo Palomo's "Concierto de Cienfuegos" in Seville, Spain, 2001, The Romeros with composer Palomo and Maestro Frühbeck de Burgos
Premiere of Federico Moreno Torroba's "Concierto Iberico" in Vancouver
Matriarch Angelita Romero with composer during a moment of leisure
Performances of "Troubadour Music" with Morton Gould conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl commissioned by the San Diego Symphony
Highlights
"The Romeros: Guardians of the Holy Grail of the Classical Guitar.
What the 'Three Tenors' are to the world of opera,The Romeros are to the classical guitar." Leipzig Volkszeitung After a performance at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Germany (1996)
Filming of the Romero KPBS/PBS documentary with producers John Harris & Bill Chayes, 2001/2002
World premiere and subsequent recording of Lorenzo Palomo's "Concierto de Cienfuegos" in Seville, Spain, 2001, The Romeros with composer Palomo and Maestro Frühbeck de Burgos.
The Romeros with Maestro Charles Dutoit after their Carnegie Hall performance with the Montreal Symphony, Fall 2000
Celin, Pepe & Angel being knighted into the Order of "Isabel la Catolica" in a ceremony and gala performance at USC, Los Angeles, Feb. 2000
Centennial celebration: The Romeros perform all 5 Rodrigo concertos in one single evening. The quartet with the composer's daughter Cecilia Rodrigo, Istanbul, 1999.
Celedonio being knighted into the Order of "Isabel de la Catolica"
1981
Performance and private audience with His Holiness Pope John Paul II at the Vatican
Celedonio & Angelita: Knight and Lady of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
The Romeros performing at the White House for President Jimmy Carter
Christmas with the Romeros
Christmas with Los Romeros - Los Romeros
Purchase from Amazon
Los Romeros, Int. Release 04 Nov. 2011 1 CD
For 50 years on stage and three generations Los Romeros have proven to be "The Royal Family of the Guitar". A veritable institution in the world of classical music, Los Romeros has dazzled countless audiences and won the raves of reviewers world wide. The world famous Los Romeros are presenting a Christmas CD in new arrangements featuring tunes from Spain, Germany and the United States. They are joined by Concerto Malaga under Massimo Paris. Celebrated worldwide for their thrilling interpretations and flawless technique Los Romeros are iconic performers who are leading a renaissance of classical guitar on the concert stage as well as in recordings
Christmas with Los Romeros
The history of the Christmas carol extends back to the Middle Ages, producing a rich tradition over centuries which continues to the modern era. This selection of new and familiar Christmas music presents the genre in unique musical colours featuring the world’s foremost guitar ensemble, Los Romeros, playing arrangements for four guitars and in company with the orchestra, the Concerto Málaga, directed by conductor and composer, Massimo Paris.
This extraordinary family of musicians, known as Los Romeros, has been a powerful presence on the international concert platform for nearly five decades. When Los Romeros made their first European tour in 1969/70, they were described by an ecstatic press as “Segovia times four”, “the Paganinis”, and “the royal family of the guitar”.
The patriarch of the family, Celedonio Romero (1913–1996), emigrated to the USA in 1957 with his young sons Celin (b. 1936), Pepe (b. 1944) and Angel (b. 1946). Celedonio taught his talented children from an early age to play the guitar, the result being a remarkable family saga which has ensured for itself a permanent place in the pantheon of guitar history.
The music of Los Romeros goes on through the generations as Angel Romero’s son, Lito, has joined the ensemble following the death of Celedonio, while Celino (Celin’s son) replaced Angel in the quartet in 1990 when his uncle decided to concentrate on his solo career. In all, seven of Celedonio’s grandchildren play the guitar. However, Pepe Jr. has acquired an international reputation as a maker of guitars, having studied the craft in Germany and elsewhere.
Thus Los Romeros have become a legend of guitar virtuosity and artistic integrity, whether as members of the renowned ensemble or as soloists in their own right. In February 2000, King Juan Carlos of Spain awarded the family a collective knighthood in the form of the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic.
Among their hundreds of concerts, Los Romeros have performed at the White House and the Vatican, for Prince Charles, Queen Sofía of Spain and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, and have appeared with the world’s leading orchestras. Many fine works have been written for them, including concertos by Joaquín Rodrigo and Federico Moreno Torroba.
Each culture has its own approach to the concept of carols, the international nature of the form bringing together a vast array of diverse characteristics. Though carols may express similar religious sentiments, various musical idioms are available ranging from straightforward folk melodies sparsely harmonized to intricately woven large-scale compositions.
On this recording the more traditional carols are interpreted through the vibrant sounds of the guitar quartet itself – the incomparable ensemble playing of Los Romeros. In this context, familiar items such as Away in a Manger, Silent Night, El Noi de la Mare, Carol of the Bells, The Little Drummer Boy, etc., take on a new and highly charged significance, the intricate sonorities being presented with appropriately intimate artistry, as well as a sense of spontaneity and freshness.
Where the guitars are accompanied by the orchestra in Handel’s “For unto us a Child is born” and the “Hallelujah” chorus, the listener may well experience the sensation of discovering a Baroque concerto, combining brilliance with symmetry. In the two arrangements of Ave Maria (by Schubert and Gounod respectively), familiar works take on excitingly different perspectives, the guitar ensemble being one of the most flexibly expressive combinations, especially when matched with superb orchestral accompaniments.
Included on this recording is also a recent work, the X’mas Suite by Massimo Paris, Italian composer, conductor and virtuoso viola player, who in 2003 was appointed conductor and artistic director of the orchestra, Concerto Málaga.
Maestro Paris’s solution to the problem of composing contemporary carols is to bring together evocative themes in four movements with traditional tonalities, the fifth being a fiery saltarello, a celebratory dance which pays homage to past customs and the demands of the 21st century. The composer skilfully integrates the ensemble expertise of Los Romeros with subtle orchestral textures, both parties complementing the other in accordance with the distinct moods of each movement of the suite.
As may seem appropriate, Los Romeros are permitted the final statement, a rendering of O Christmas Tree, from the German carol O Tannenbaum, based on an ancient folk tune, and a gently contrapuntal approach to We Wish You a Merry Christmas, a carol which originated in 16th-century England. The poised assurance of Los Romeros, the harvest of so many decades in the musical spotlight, brings to these lovely carols an enhanced beauty and meaning.
Graham Wade
Track List
George Frideric Handel
Messiah
1. For Unto Us a Child is Born (arranged by Yoon Kwan Park / Massimo Paris) Los Romeros, Concerto Malaga, Massimo Paris, James Ramsey Murray
2. Away in a Manger (arranged by Patrick Kerber / David Bryan) Traditional
3. Joy to the World (arranged by Patrick Kerber)Los Romeros
Franz Schubert
4. Ave Maria (arranged by Federico Moreno-Torroba)
George Frideric Handel
Messiah
5. Hallelujah (arranged by Christopher Dobrian / Massimo Paris) Los Romeros, Concerto Malaga, Massimo Paris
Mykola Leontovych
6. Carol of the bells - arranged by Patrick Kerber / David Bryan, Traditional
7. El Noi de la Mare - arranged by Christopher Dobrian / Pepe Romero
8. Silent Night - arranged by Christopher Dobrian
9. The Little Drummer Boy - arranged by Patrick Kerber
Michael Praetorius
10. Es ist ein' Ros' entsprungen (Speierisches Gesangbuch, Köln,1599) (Lo, How a Rose - arranged by Stephen C. Siktberg) Los Romeros
Massimo Paris
X'mas Suite for 4 guitars and chamber orchestra
11. Pastorale and Bells
X'mas Suite for 4 guitars and chamber orchestra
12. Little Comet Minuet
X'mas Suite for 4 guitars and chamber orchestra
13. Three King's Gavotte
X'mas Suite for 4 guitars and chamber orchestra
14. Holy Child Lullaby
X'mas Suite for 4 guitars and chamber orchestra
15. X'mas Saltarello
Los Romeros, Concerto Malaga, Massimo Paris
Vince Guaraldi, Lee Mendelson
16. Christmas Time is Here - arranged by Patrick Kerber, Los Romeros
Johann Sebastian Bach, Charles Gounod
17. Ave Maria - arranged by Federico Moreno-Torroba, Los Romeros, Concerto Malaga, Massimo Paris, Traditional
18. O Christmas Tree / We Wish You a Merry Christmas (arranged by Stephen C. Siktberg), Los Romeros
Total Playing Time 1:05:57 - See more at: http://www.pricerubin.com/classical/index.php?summarynumber=613#sthash.jHEs6cE6.dpuf