The Aranjuez concerto is an original piece for guitar and orchestra.
It was written in Paris in 1939, far from the final stage
of the Spanish Civil War and on the verge of the European
conflict which en in the 2nd World War.
The idea of writing a concerto for guitar was put forward by
the guitarist Regino Sainz de la Maza a year before and Rodrigo
accepted the challenge immediately.
It was first performed at the Palau de la Musica in Barcelona
on 9th November 1940 by Regino himself with the Barcelona
City Orchestra, under the direction of Cesar Mendoza Lassalle.
From the first moment it was a great success, and rapidly
became one of the most performed concertos of the 20th
Century.
The adaptation for 2 guitars, made by the duo Muñoz Coca
– Santi Pavon, claims to offer a new vision. We could describe
it as a chamber piece, more intimate, but nevertheless
maintaining all musicality, the essence and the spirit of this
great work of art.