Andrés Segovia Torres

Andrés Segovia Torres, 1st Marquis of Salobreña (21 February 1893 – 2 June 1987) was a Spanish virtuoso classical guitarist.

Many professional classical guitarists were either students of Segovia or students of Segovia's students. Segovia's contribution to the modern-romantic repertoire included not only commissions but also his own transcriptions of classical or baroque works. He is remembered for his expressive performances: his wide palette of tone, and his distinctive musical personality, phrasing and style.

Early life

Segovia was born on 21 February 1893 in Linares, Jaén. He was sent at a very young age to live with his uncle Eduardo and aunt María. Eduardo arranged for Segovia's first music lessons with a violin teacher after he had recognised that Segovia had an aptitude for music. That proved to be an unhappy introduction to music for the young Segovia because of the teacher's strict methods, and Eduardo stopped the lessons. His uncle decided to move to Granada to allow Segovia to obtain a better education.

After arriving in Granada, Segovia recommenced his musical studies. Segovia was aware of flamenco during his formative years as a musician but stated that he "did not have a taste" for the form and chose instead the works of Fernando Sor, Francisco Tárrega, and other classical composers. Tárrega agreed to give the self-taught Segovia some lessons but died before they could meet, and Segovia states that his early musical education involved the "double function of professor and pupil in the same body".

Personal life

Segovia's first wife was Adelaida Portillo (marriage in 1918). 

Segovia's second wife (marriage in 1935) was the pianist Paquita Madriguera, who also made some piano roll recordings. 

From 1944, he maintained a romantic relationship with Brazilian singer and guitarist Olga Praguer Coelho, which was to last for over a decade. 

In 1962 Segovia married Emilia Magdalena Corral Sancho. They had one son, Carlos Andrés Segovia, the current Marquis of Salobreña.

Partial discography

• Guitar Solos – Decca, 1949.
• An Evening With Andres Segovia – Decca, 1954 (Grammy Hall of Fame Award 1999).
• Golden Jubilee, 2 volumi – Brunswick, 1958–60 (Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without orchestra) 1958).
• Ingterpreta: Granados, Albéniz, Scarlatti, Paganini – Deutsche Grammophon, 1961.
• Segovia plays Bach – Saga, 1969.
• Castles of Spain – Decca, 1970.
• El arte de Andrés Segovia – MCA, 1970.
• Fantasia para un Gentilhombre – MCA, 1972.
• Recital intimo – Intercord, 1975.
• The Segovia Collection, 9 volumi – MCA, 1989–91
  • Vol. 1: The Legendary Andrés Segovia in an All-Bach Program
  • Vol. 2: The Legendary Andrés Segovia plays "Fantasia para un Gentilhombre", "Concierto del Sur", "Castles of Spain"
  • Vol. 3: The Legendary Andrés Segovia: my Favorite Works
  • Vol. 4: The Legendary Andrés Segovia: The Baroque Guitar
  • Vol. 5: The Legendary Andrés Segovia: five centuries of the Spanish Guitar
  • Vol. 6: The Legendary Andrés Segovia: Ponce sonatas
  • Vol. 7: The Legendary Andrés Segovia: Guitar etudes
  • Vol. 8: The Legendary Andrés Segovia: Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
  • Vol. 9: "The Legendary Andrés Segovia: The Romantic Guitar"
• The complete 1949 London Recordings – Testament, 1994.
• The complete Early Recordings (1927–1939) – Fono Enterprise, 1997.
• The Art of Segovia – Deutsche Grammophon, 2002.
• The Segovia Collection, 4 volumi – Deutsche Grammophon, 2003.
  • Vol. 1: Rodrigo, Boccherini, Ponce
  • Vol. 2: Rodrigo, Ponce, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Torroba, Mompou
  • Vol. 3: Albeniz, Granados, Sanz, Sor
  • Vol. 4: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Andres Segovia: 1950s American Recordings – Naxos, 2007.
• Ponce: "Concierto del Sur". Rodrigo: "Fantasia para un Gentilhombre" – Naxos, 2012.
• Segovia – Guitar Music, compositions by Segovia performed by Alberto La Rocca – CD Brilliant Classics, 2016. Contains: 11 Preludios, Estudio en mi mayor, Estudio para Deli, Recordando a Deli, Estudios, Estudio-Vals, Estudio sin luz, Improntu, Two Pieces, Veintitrés canciones populares de distintos paìses.