Vicente Coves Merino (Linares, 1982)
Hardly ever can we find a name that has contributed so much to a musical instrument and, therefore, to Spanish musical culture.
As a guitarist, producer and cultural manager, Coves is a disciple of the legendary Pepe Romero and he is also the brother of the conductor Manuel Coves.
Guitarist
His career as a performer has led him to be invited to the most prestigious theatres and orchestras, being conducted by leading international conductors. Italy, Chile, Mexico, Germany, Korea, Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Qatar, Ecuador and Russia are some of the countries in which he has played, performing as soloist with orchestra in the Great Hall Tchaikovsky (Moscow), Teatro Colón (Buenos Aires), Auditorio Nacional de Música in Madrid, Teatro de La Zarzuela (Madrid), Auditorio de Zaragoza (Mozart Symphonic Hall), Teatro Verdi (Florence), Aspire Hall (Doha), Teatro Arriaga (Bilbao), Expo-Zaragoza 2008, Seoul Arts Center (Korea), Teatro Lope de Vega (Seville), Cueva de Nerja, Kölner Philharmonie (Germany), Bridgewater Hall (UK), etc. Philharmonic Orchestra in Buenos Aires, Young Philharmonic Orchestra in Moscow, Orquesta della Toscana, Orquesta in the Regional Government of Madrid, Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, Cologne Chamber Orchestra, Orquesta Ciudad de Granada, Philharmonic Orchestra in Málaga, Philharmonic Orchestra in Galicia, National Philharmonic Orchestra in Ecuador, Radio Televisión Española Orchestra (ORTVE), Orchestra in Córdoba, National Orchestra in Spain or the BBC Philharmonic have been some of the orchestras that have invited Vicente Coves, under the baton of Jean Jacques Kantorow, Adrian Leaper, Isaac Karabtchevsky, Enrique Diemecke, John Neschling, Juanjo Mena, Miquel Ortega, Manuel Coves, Andreas Weiser, etc.
He has performed with artists such as Pepe Romero, María Bayo, Esperanza Fernández, Horacio Ferrer and Enrique Morente.
Throughout his career, he has released 9 solo recordings exclusively for Naxos Records, as well as collaborating on many productions as a guest.
2002: Al Maestro. Homenaje a Celedonio Romero.
2007: Piazzolla: María de Buenos Aires.
2008: Sinfonía a Granada. Orquesta Ciudad de Granada. María Bayo & Luís García Montero
2011: Latin American Music for Guitar. Vicente Coves. Guest artists: Enrique Morente & Horacio Ferrer.
2013: Classical Music: 50 of the best.
2015: Federico Moreno Torroba. Guitar Concertos 1. Orquesta Filarmónica Málaga · Pepe Romero · Manuel Coves
2016: Federico Moreno Torroba. Guitar Concertos 2. Orquesta Sinfónica in Extremadura · Pepe Romero · Manuel Coves.
2019: Manuel de Falla: La Vida Breve. BBC Philharmonic · Juanjo Mena.
2022: Piazzolla: Historie du Tango. Kazonori Seo
Vicente Coves' contributions to the world of the guitar include commissions and world premieres, as well as first recordings of various works. Among them, the work "Sinfonía a Granada" for soprano guitar and orchestra by the composer Lorenzo Palomo, written by Luis García Montero, which was composed for Vicente Coves and María Bayo, being its premiere and recording for the Naxos label. He also premiered and recorded the "Rapsodia Andaluza" by Ana Muzychenko at the legendary Symphonic Hall "Great Hall Tchaikovsky" in Moscow.
In 2008, he was awarded the "Rubinstein" medal by the Tchaikovsky Conservatory (University) in Moscow, with the title of "Most Excellent", one of the most prestigious international awards in Classical Music.
Music Producer
As a producer, he appears in other video recordings such as "Flamenco und Gitarren in Granada"(Canal Arte-2019) , "Pepe Romero live in Granada" (2008) and as a co-musical producer in the video "Recuerdos de la Alhambra" by Pepe Romero (2020).
Masterclass
His work offering his knowledge through Masterclasses all over the world has led him to be invited every year by prestigious universities such as the California State University or the University of Southern California.
Presidency of the European Guitar Foundation
Vicente Coves created in 2016 the European Guitar Foundation, of which he is the President. The European Guitar Foundation was created with the aim of promoting the Spanish guitar, creating new audiences and preserving and disseminating the most popular instrument in the world, which represents Spain as a country.
General Direction of Festivals and Competitions
He is the Director and founder of the following festivals and competitions:
- Granada Guitar Festival Antonio Marín (2017 present).
- Antonio Marín Guitar Building Competition (2017 present)
- Andalucía Music Festival (2018 present)
- Pepe Romero Guitar Festival - Málaga (2022 present)
