Lucero Tena

Lucero Tena is widely recognized for her distinctive and expressive artistry, which has redefined the role of castanets in the classical concert repertoire. A pioneer of the instrument, she has brought castanets to the forefront as a solo voice in major concert halls and with leading orchestras worldwide. The Italian press has acclaimed her as “the Paganini of the castanets.”

She has appeared as a soloist across five continents, collaborating with eminent conductors including Loren Maazel, Mstislav Rostropovich, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Jesús López Cobos, Sergiu Comissiona, Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez, Plácido Domingo, and others.

Lucero Tena has performed with distinguished orchestras such as the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Spanish National Orchestra, and the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, among many others, consistently earning critical and public acclaim.

Particularly notable is her acclaimed interpretation of Manuel de Falla’s La Vida breve, which she has performed on more than 150 occasions.

Recent highlights include appearances at the Berlin Philharmonie, the Hollywood Bowl, and Teatro alla Scala in Milan, as well as at major international festivals such as La Folle Journée in Nantes, Tokyo, and Warsaw. In Spain, she has performed at leading opera houses including the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Palau de les Arts in Valencia, and Teatro de la Zarzuela.

Her collaboration with renowned harpist Xavier de Maistre, featured on the Sony Classical recording Serenata Española, has led to invitations to prestigious international festivals and extensive touring throughout Europe and Asia.

Throughout her career, she has been honoured with numerous prestigious awards. Lucero Tena continues to appear internationally, both as a soloist and in duo recitals with Xavier de Maistre.