Meet Visiting Guitarist René Izquierdo
Classical Music Meet the Musicians
Get to know René Izquierdo, a world-renowned guitarist who will perform with Redlands Symphony at the Season 21–22 opener on October 9, 2021.
Originally from Cuba, René is a unique artist and passionate educator. His career has been dedicated to inspiring individuals and connecting communities. René’s performances have been heralded by Classical Guitar Magazine for their “unforgettable versatility, sensitivity, and sublime musicianship.”
He has performed to critical acclaim, touring extensively throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. René is frequently invited by renowned festivals and institutions, having played at stages such as Carnegie Hall in New York, Manaus Opera House in Brazil, and National Recital Hall in Taiwan.
Get Your Tickets to Hear René Perform In-Person October 9, 2021.
Enjoy our Q&A with René.
How long have you played?
René: Since I was 14 years old. It was always a habit until I immigrated to the United States. I managed to audition at Yale University and got accepted. My path changed considerably then and I started my journey as a professional musician.
What kind of guitar do you play?
René: I have several guitars tailor-made for me. They are all very high-quality instruments and come from a variety of places including Spain, Germany, USA, Mexico, and China. All of them are nylon string classical guitars.
How are the guitars different?
René: Almost everything is different. They have different nylon strings, different construction, and different body shape. This makes the size and sound quality quite different.
What kind of strings do you use?
René: I used Savarez strings. I am a Savarez Artist, which is a French company and very prestigious.
What’s your favorite music?
René: I love good music, from Renaissance to the present. I love Mozart, Bach, Debussy etc.
What kind of music do you play, primarily?
René: I started out playing popular folk music from Cuba. Little by little I learned how to read music notation. Now I enjoy performing good music of all types.
What does music mean to you?
René: Music gives meaning to my life. Contributing beauty to this world is a life worth living. Teaching appreciation, skills, and seeing a student flourish is a great return to the effort.
What’s one of your most memorable performances?
René: Aranjuez concerto is a milestone of a guitar composition. It is challenging at every level and difficult to perform. Rodrigo was a pianist. His guitar music is difficult to perform because of the way he thought about the guitar. The main challenge is the volume difference required to match the orchestra.
What hobbies do you have outside of music?
René: I love hiking, riding my bike, dancing, playing chess, traveling, and meeting new people.
Opening Night is 10/9/21
We hope you'll join us for our exciting concert featuring René. In addition to his performance of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez, our musicians will celebrate our return to live music with Beethoven, Mozart, and more.
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