The Romeros Come to Oberlin

The storied guitar quartet—one might say, the “original guitar quartet”—made it’s first appearance in Oberlin recently. They were a feature performance on this year’s Artist Recital Series, the big-budget series that each year features major industry names and presents them in the historic Finney Chapel, the College’s largest performance space.

The quartet was launched by the family’s patriarch, Celedonio, with his three sons Celín, Ángel and Pepe in 1960. They continued after Angel stepped aside in 1990 with Celín’s son, Celino, and on Celedonio’s passing in 1996, with Ángel’s son, Lito. The ensemble has played in major concert halls worldwide for nearly sixty years. Two members of the family, Ángel and Pepe, emerged as leading soloists of their generation; their combined 60 solo CD’s plus the over 25 CD’s by the quartet make them among the most prolific and influential guitarist of the last half-century.

The concert was attended by over 800. The audience was ecstatic in their enthusiasm for the group’s performance; it was heartening to see so many people loudly enjoying guitar music. That evening, the quartet’s younger members, Celino and Lito, gave a master class for the guitar students. In all, it was a delight to have them join us and share their unique brand of music-making and family lore. Below are some photos from the visit. The full program follows.

Los Romeros command the stage of Finney Chapel at Oberlin College

Pepe plays some solos

Celin plays solo

Celino and Lito play duets

Celino plays solo

And the quartet responds to the crowd’s enthusiasm with two encores.

The master class, in the Conservatory’s Kulas Hall, was taught by Lito and Celino. Note: master class photos by Yevhen Gulenko.

Eliza Balmuth played the first movement from Federico Moreno-Torroba’s Sonatina in A

Mohit Dubey played Invocacion y Danza by Joaquin Rodrigo

Craig Slagh played the first movement of Joaquin Turina’s Sonata

Aidan Wiley Lippke played Astor Piazzolla’s Invierno Porteño

And, left to right: Caeli Massey, Morgan Vallat, Aidan Wiley Lippke, Archie Velasquez, Celino Romero, Lito Romero, Mohit Dubey, Craig Slagh, Eliza Balmuth, and Stephen Aron…

Here is the quartet’s program: