The Pride of Paraguay: Guitarist Berta Rojas on Her New Album, Legado, Classical Guitar's Women Pioneers, and Finding Inspiration in Her Heritage
Berta Rojas. Credit: Guillermo Fridman.
So much of the way classical musicians perform or even think about music is informed by the work of past generations. But what happens when history books omit certain musicians, often due to their gender, race, or sexuality? How can those gaps in music history — and our shared musical legacy — be restored?
These questions form the foundation of a new album from classical guitarist Berta Rojas, Legado, which means "legacy" in Spanish. On the album, Rojas — one of the world's most acclaimed classical guitarists and professor at Boston's Berklee College of Music — honors the music of two trailblazing women of the guitar who have been long overlooked.
"Legado came out of a question I had," Rojas says in the latest episode of the Classical Post podcast. "Why is it that when you talk about the history of the guitar, you rarely mention the women who also made the history of the instrument?"
Although the names Ida Presti and María Luisa Anido are unfamiliar to most, their incredible talent and unforgettable performances made them some of the premier figures of 20th-century classical guitar, alongside Andrés Segovia and Julian Bream. However, the fame and recognition they enjoyed evaporated soon after their deaths.
But with her breakthrough recordings, Rojas is working to restore these remarkable women guitarists to their illustrious and influential place in history.
"A way to bring them into the conversation is to play their music, and also the music that was dedicated to them, that they inspired with their artistry. I would love for people to research them, and more women who are part of the history of the guitar."
In this conversation, we discuss more about Rojas's album and why she believes being a great musician means "bathing in the fountains of culture." Plus, she shares how taking long walks with no destination has brought a greater sense of freedom to her life, the ways Paraguayan culture inspires her creativity, and her favorite place to get a carne empanada in New York City.
Listen to Legado on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you get your music.
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