Ricardo Castro

Ricardo Castro (1864-1907) was a concert pianist and composer. The son of a Mexican politician, he was sent by the Mexican government in 1894 to an international cotton exposition in the United States. He remained there for at least two years, giving concerts throughout the country and was often referred to as the “child pianist.” He went to Europe in 1903, where for three years he gave master classes in a number of principal cities. While in Paris he published many Mexican dances for piano and studied with Teresa Carreño. After returning to Mexico he was appointed director of the National Conservatory and remained in that position until succumbing to pneumonia. One of Castro’s most important works, the operetta Atzimba, was premiered in Mexico City in 1900. Although he did not write the first nationalistic opera composed in Latin America, Castro does enjoy the distinction of being the author of that region’s first piano concerto and first cello concerto.

Maestro Castro’s Compositions