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The Bolivian guitarist, Javier Calderón, thrilled the audience of his native city of La Paz, Bolivia the evening he played with the Bolivian National Symphony Orchestra at age 17. Then he was invited to the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont. Soon after, Andrés Segovia awarded the young guitarist a scholarship to study under his tutelage in Spain. Calderón, who is also an accomplished cellist, studied interpretation with Janos Starker.
One of the most expressive guitarists of our time, Javier Calderón now tours extensively in the USA, Europe, South America and the Far East. He appears regularly as concert soloist with orchestras including the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Minnesota Orchestra and in solo recitals throughout the world. He has performed chamber music concerts with cellist Yo Yo Ma and been featured at numerous international music festivals.
Eloquent interpretations and the ability to draw a fascinating variety of sounds from the guitar characterize Javier Calderón's unique style. Audiences in New York's Carnegie Hall; Madrid, Buenos Aires, Taipei, Bonn, Mexico City, and Seoul, have been spellbound by his flawless technique and moved by his sensitivity and musicianship. The Tages Anzeiger of Zürich described Javier Calderón as "an exceptional artist of the guitar." The critic of the Great China Evening News wrote " I was moved to tears by Calderón's performance." When Javier Calderón played his solo recital debut at Carnegie Hall, the New York Times called him "...a virtuoso with poetic sensibility." Since then many composers, including the eminent American Alan Hovhaness and Lawrence Weiner, have been writing and dedicating guitar concertos and solo pieces to Calderón. His concerts have been broadcast by PBS in the USA, Radio Television Española in Europe and by the Voice of America in Latin America.
Javier Calderón holds the position of Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, (USA) School of Music, where he founded and heads the guitar program. |
