Manuel Barrueco is one of the leading classical guitarists of international renown. He has been described as a superb instrumentalist and an elegant musician, with a seductive sound and uncommon lyrical gifts. He has toured and recorded extensively. In the following, we profile one of the greatest classical guitarists around today.

Every year, his tours takes him around the globe. Some of the places he has toured included important musical centres such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Munich, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Rome, Copenhagen, Athens, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan. He has also appeared at the famous BBC Proms Concerts at The Royal Albert Hall in London with The BBC Concert Orchestra and performed with The Royal Philharmonic in Madrid to commemorate the 100th anniversary Joaquín Rodrigo's birth.

He has made many recordings, and one of his most recent, "¡Cuba!," was called "an extraordinary musical achievement" by the San Francisco Chronicle, while his recording of Joaquín Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez with conductor/tenor Plácido Domingo and the Philharmonia Orchestra, was mentioned as the best recording of that piece in Classic CD Magazine. His latest release, "Nylon & Steel," is a collection of duos with guitar greats Al Di Meola, Steve Morse (Deep Purple), and Andy Summers (The Police), further demonstrating his outstanding versatility and imaginative programming.

His commitment to contemporary music and to the expansion of the guitar repertoire has led him to collaborations with many distinguished composers such as Toru Takemitsu, Roberto Sierra, Steven Stucky, and Arvo Pärt.

His performances have been broadcast by television stations such as NHK in Japan, Bayerische Rundfunk in Germany, and RTVE in Spain. In the United States, he has been featured in a Lexus car commercial, "CBS Sunday Morning", A&E's "Breakfast with the Arts", and "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood."

Manuel Barrueco began playing the guitar at the age of eight, and he attended the Esteban Salas Conservatory in his native Santiago de Cuba. He emigrated with his family to the United States in 1967, later completing his advanced studies at the Peabody Conservatory of Music.

Mr. Barrueco also shares a commitment to teaching. He is on the faculty of the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, MD, where he also conducts a yearly master class in June which is attended by students from all over the world.

Reviews of selected Recordings:

[on Cuba!] Five Stars *****. It's an extraordinary musical achievement." San Francisco Chronicle

Manuel Barrueco's new version [of the Concierto de Aranjuez] is the best." Classic CD

[On Bach Violin Sonatas] We have come to expect superb performances from Barrueco and in these works we get them. These are performances of dignity and distinction" Gramophone

[On Cantos y Danzas] ...this is a superb recording, one to be acquired and treasured." Gramophone

[on the Rodrigo CD] The four songs [Placido Domingo] sings with Barrueco's accompaniment are really gorgeous." Fanfare Magazine

[on the Rodrigo CD] This is a virtually ideal Rodrigo disc." Classic CD Magazine

Manuel Barrueco is one of the best classical guitarists on the planet... Barrueco's readings [of Albéniz & Turina] set new standards for musicianship..." Audio

[on Albéniz & Turina] Another artistic triumph from the great Cuban guitarist." American Record Guide

This disc, [Bach & de Visée] with Barrueco's Albéniz and Villa-Lobos discs, together demonstrate mastery of many different aspects of the guitar; a triptych of excellence that is surely without precedent." Classical Guitar Magazine

[Granados & de Falla] Manuel Barrueco consistently produces some of the most gorgeous guitar recordings available today." Soundboard

[on Sometime Ago] ...the best-sounding guitar records of any major artist." American Record Guide

...the rightness of these interpretations [Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett from Sometime Ago] is attributable to Barrueco's phenomenal technique." Acoustic Guitar

[on Granados & Falla] ...invaluable, a national treasure... Another year for Barrueco and another year's best." American Record Guide