From the grand concert halls of Spain to our state-of-the-art Merchant Hall, internationally renowned guitarist Pablo Sainz-Villegas and his trio of fellow musicians (2/28) perform a stunning program spanning evocative and romantic works while blending iconic repertoire with personal stories from life in Spain. Known for his virtuosity and cultural ambassadorship, Billboard Magazine coined him the “global ambassador of Spanish guitar.” In this Q&A, Sainz-Villegas shares the memories, meaning, and human connection that shape both his music and mission.
How do the personal stories from your life in Spain influence the way you bring these iconic and fiery guitar pieces to the stage?
Pablo Sainz-Villegas: Spain isn’t just where I’m from—it’s the lens through which I hear color, rhythm, and even silence. I grew up in La Rioja, surrounded by a culture where celebration and tenderness live side by side. When I play Albéniz, de Falla, Turina, Tárrega—or the “fiery” concert showpieces—those pieces aren’t abstract repertoire to me. They’re memories and sound: a landscape, a scent, a way of speaking, a way of moving.
I also believe our heritage becomes our true voice. Even when I’m playing music that isn’t Spanish, there’s often a subtle Spanish signature in my phrasing—because art lives in nuance. That subtlety is where interpretation becomes personal, where a piece stops being perfect and starts being alive.
Tell us about your philanthropic project, “The Legacy of Music Without Borders.” What does this project entail, and why is it important to you?
Sainz-Villegas: I founded The Legacy of Music Without Borders in the border of Tijuana and San Diego in 2006 with the conviction that music unites and can humanize an environment and help us understand each other across cultures. The project has brought live and free music to tens of thousands of children and young people in Spain, Mexico, and the United States, and it has also supported the creation of education programs—one early chapter began with concerts across Tijuana and San Diego, which helped spark music programs in schools and support local teaching.
The evolution made Legacy become ‘Strings in Common’ in which we have added a program to support the legacy of the Spanish Classical Guitar by commissioning new pieces and supporting contemporary composers. For me, it’s deeply personal. I’ve always felt the guitar is an instrument of the people—a voice that belongs not only to concert halls but to everyday life. And I’ve seen, firsthand, how music can erase borders, transmit values, celebrate diversity, and bring people together through shared emotion. That is why this work matters: because it’s not only about performance—it’s about dignity, access, and the kind of world we build together.
What are some of your most memorable or enjoyable performing experiences and why?
Sainz-Villegas: There are “big” moments that stay with you—and then there are moments that are big because of what you feel. My very first performance when I was seven years old shaped everything. I still remember the pure happiness of stepping on stage, the spotlight, and the almost sacred energy that comes from an attentive audience. That sensation—feeling a room breathe with you—totally determined my relationship with music and with the audience.
One of my dreams came true when I got to play with the Berlin Philharmonic and maestro Kirill Petrenko for the 2021 New Years Concert. It was during the pandemic so there was no audience, though it was televised for millions. The environment was unique and intimate being alone in the concert hall with them, and how significant and important it was that we were still making music through a pandemic that shook us all.
I also performed with Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony, which was unforgettable! On one hand, this concert was bigger than me—it was about the instrument’s place in the world. And on the other hand, personally, it was truly special to share and make music with legendary maestro Muti and exchange our ideas about the Aranjuez Concerto. Truly magical!
Ultimately, the most memorable nights are the ones where the audiences and I meet in the same emotional place—where technique becomes invisible and only the story remains.
What can audiences look forward to on Feb 28 when Spanish Night with Pablo and Friends makes its Hylton Center debut?
Sainz-Villegas: The Spanish Night is designed as a journey through Spain—iconic, evocative, romantic, and yes: fiery. I’ll be joined by a trio of fellow musicians and close friends, and throughout the evening we’ll weave the music together with personal stories from my life in Spain, so the audience doesn’t just hear the repertoire—they feel the places and the people behind it. The published program includes favorites and showpieces such as Albéniz’s “Asturias (Leyenda),” Tárrega’s “Recuerdos de la Alhambra,” the beloved Concierto de Aranjuez, and continues south to the flamenco music of Paco de Lucía.
My hope is that you leave feeling you’ve traveled—through light and shadow, elegance and raw passion—and that, for a couple hours, Spain feels like home.
Savor the music of Spain in this dynamic performance by Pablo Sainz-Villegas on Saturday, February 28. Tickets are on sale now.