XXIV Flamenco Biennial

JUAN MANUEL CAÑIZARES

National Music Award

Canizares (Sabadell, Barcelona. 1966), distinguished with the National Music Award (Interpreter, 2023), He is a guitarist and composer, and one of the most influential figures in flamenco internationally.. Added to this recognition is the National Flamenco Guitar Award. (1982) and the National Guitar Award (2025). Besides, has received other recognitions such as: the Music Award (2008), the Flamenco Hoy Award (2000, 2011 and 2013) and the MIN Award for Best Flamenco Album (2019).

Equipped with a solid classical training, Cañizares moves with absolute naturalness both in the academic repertoire and in his own creations.. In fact, has the honor of being the first and only flamenco guitarist to have been invited by the Berlin Philharmonic, with which he performed at the Teatro Real in Madrid, under the direction of Sir Simon Rattle, he Aranjuez Concert, by Master Rodrigo.

He has collaborated with other prominent international orchestras., among which are: la Staatskapelle Dresden, the NHK Symphony Orchestra or the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. He has recently recorded and published an album with the Galician Symphony Orchestra, directed by Juanjo Mena.

Cañizares maintained a close relationship with Paco de Lucía for ten years, highlighting his transcription and interpretation of the Suite Iberia by Albéniz, included on the disc Aranjuez Concert that the maestro from Algeciras recorded. He has also collaborated with artists of very different musical textures., as: Enrique Morente, Camarón de la Isla, Serrated, Alejandro Sanz, John Paul Jones, Peter Gabriel o Leo Brouwer.

In the world of cinema he has participated in outstanding productions, as

He has had notable participations in cinema, highlighting his intervention in the films of Carlos Saura Flamenco (1995) and Jota de Saura (2016), as well as in love and death. History of Enrique Granados (2020), by Arantxa Aguirre.

As a composer, Cañizares has created works for the National Ballet of Spain and soundtracks for various films, included Lola goes to the ports, by Rocío Jurado and Francisco Rabal. He also composed the music with which the national Artistic Swimming team participated in the Tokyo Olympics. 2020 and won the Gold medal at the Fukuoka Swimming World Cup in 2023.

Throughout his prolific career, has published 15 albums and has collaborated on more than 100 with other artists. Due to its special relevance, you can highlight their 3 commissioned symphonic compositions: Al-Andalus Concert in memory of Paco de Lucía (OCNE 2016); Mediterranean Concert in memory of Joaquín Rodrigo (OBC 2018), and the Mozarabic Concert for the 40th anniversary of the Córdoba Guitar Festival.

Saturday 19 September 2026 – Maestranza Theater: 20:00 hours