If you purchased tickets for one of the previous rescheduled dates for Angel Romero, this performance has been rescheduled as part of our 2022 season for the date and location below. We do not offer refunds but you may hold on to your tickets for the rescheduled performance or request a voucher for the value of your tickets that can be used for other concerts. To request a voucher in lieu of your tickets which can be used for other U.S. Classic Guitar events including the online series, please email us at info@usclassicguitar.org. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Angel Romero with Ronit Widmann-Levy Portland Concert – Friday, December 9, 2022 at 7 PM (The Trinity Episcopal Cathedral located at 147 NW 19th Ave, Portland Oregon).
Angel Romero Master Class - Thursday, December 8 at 6:30 PMAngel Romero will be joined by Ronit Widhamm-Levy who is a world-renowned vocalist originally from Israel. Their exciting program will include Spanish voice and guitar works by Manuel de Falla, Federico Garcia Lorca, guitar solos composed by Angel Romero's father Celedonio Romero and two songs from the rare, treasured Ladino music of Spanish-Jewish heritage.
Angel Romero Biography
Hailed for his superior artistry as the Spanish maestro of the guitar, Angel Romero’s eminence in the music world as soloist and conductor is heralded by audiences and critics alike. One of the most sought-after musicians of his generation, Angel Romero has appeared in the major cultural centers throughout the world including those of London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Madrid, Munich, Zurich, Chicago, Los Angles and New York among others. He has appeared as soloist with such leading orchestras as the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic, the New World Symphony, and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. As conductor, he has led numerous orchestras worldwide including the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the Royal Philharmonic, Germany’s NDR Symphony Orchestra and the Berlin Symphoniker, the Beijing Philharmonic, the Euro-Asia Philharmonic, the Shanghai Symphony, the Bogotá Philharmonic, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Orquesta de Baja California, the Santa Barbara Symphony, the San Diego Symphony and the San Diego Chamber Orchestra among others. Regardless of his role on stage, his driving intensity and flawless control mark him as a true master of the arts.
Angel Romero’s extensive discography includes highly acclaimed recordings for Delos International, RCA Victor Red Seal and RCA Victor Worldwide, Telarc and Angel/EMI. In 2001, Delos released “Bella,” which includes monumental pieces such as Bach's Air on the G String to Romero's own father's Tango Angelita - a composition dedicated to his late mother. In 1999, “Romero Plays Rodrigo” was released featuring works written for and dedicated to Angel Romero through his long and close relationship with the Spanish composer. In 1998, he was featured as soloist and conductor in an acclaimed recording of Vivaldi’s guitar concertos with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. In 1995, RCA released a crossover recording of flamenco and pop music, featuring Angel Romero playing a diverse repertoire spanning works from Pachelbel to Bill Conti. This particular recording features Mr. Romero’s world-premiere transcriptions for one guitar.
In February 2000 he was presented with the highest honor that the country of Spain has to offer, the Grand Cross of Isabel la Catolica and was knighted Sir Angel Romero in reverence of his astounding musical accomplishments. In 2007, Angel Romero was honored by the Recording Academy, producer of the Grammy Awards, with the Recording Academy President’s Merit Award for his significant contributions to the music world and for his professional career achievements.
Angel Romero is noted for his activities in the film industry. In 1989, he performed the entire score for “The Milagro Bean Field War” directed by Robert Redford. In 1994, he composed and directed the musical score for the Gabriele Retes film “Bienvenido-Welcome,” which opened at the Muestra del Cine film festival in Guadalajara. For his work on this film, Mr. Romero won the 1995 ARIEL (the “Academy Award” of Mexico) in the category of music written originally for film. He also performed and recorded the entire score for the film “By The Sword” composed by Bill Conti, and played a cameo role in the major motion picture “Bound by Honor,” a Taylor Hackford film.
Born in Malaga, Spain, Angel Romero made his professional debut at the age of six and his United States debut at the Hollywood Bowl when he was 16 giving the West Coast premiere of the famed Rodrigo’s “Aranjuez Concerto.” This occasion also marked the first time a guitarist was featured as soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In 1991, he gave the world premiere of Joaquin Rodrigo’s “Rincones de España” at New York’s Lincoln Center. Mr. Romero studied conducting privately with Eugene Ormandy, the legendary conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Angel Romero has played for numerous world leaders including his globally telecast 1992 appearance in the United Nations General Assembly Hall with the National Orchestra of Spain under the baton of Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos. The performance was by invitation of then Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali to promote world peace and to celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus.
Ms. Widmann-Levy made her début with the San Francisco Symphony in February 2005 in Schumann’s Das Paradies und die Peri, conducted by Ingo Metzmacher. Since her debut Ronit has regularly performed with Michael Tilson Thomas and the SFS in Carnegie Hall, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the New World Symphony Orchestra as well as with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Widmann-Levy’s interpretation of Arnold Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire has won praise and she has been invited to perform the piece in Europe and the U.S.A.
Ronit is renowned for her interpretation of Ladino romance. In Spring of 2010 she embarked on a world concert tour with Ladino Soul. Ronit Widmann-Levy's repertory includes the roles of Violetta, Constanza, Madama Butterfly, Micaela, Mimi, Liù,Gilda and Freia. Symphonic works include among others: Carmina Burana, Beethoven’s 9 symphony, Mahler 4 and 2 Symphonies.
“Soprano Ronit Widmann-Levy's ethereal upward major-ninth leap before "Blanziflor et Helena" set the stage for an erotic and sinfully stately chorale-paeon to the pleasures of the flesh…Marvelous”. 21st century music magazine 2008.
Critics consistently write about Ronit’s ability to sing with “compelling conviction and warmth with a voice whose naturally extensive range shows “fine-spun altitudes” (Washington times). The Eugene Register-Guard arts critic described her performance as Micaela: "One of the most impressive artists was Ronit Widmann-Levy playing...Micaela, the sweet innocent country girl...Widmann-Levy, made her two arias memorable. Her voice has a weighty tone, and she uses it with solid technique."
Bill Glackin of the Sacramento Bee wrote of her performance of the last scene from Capriccio by Richard Strauss: “she is a singer of compelling conviction and warmth as well as unusual personal beauty”. Future engagements include concerts with New York Philharmonic orchestra conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas performing The Thomashefskys: Music and Memories of a Life in the Yiddish Theatre. Philadelphia Orchestra and the New World Symphony.