Carlos Bonell is celebrated for a distinguished career which includes TV, Film and CD recordings, worldwide tours, concertos with the major orchestras, and the creation of his own Ensemble. He can be heard on the sound tracks of the Hollywood films ‘City of Angels’ and ‘The Honest Courtesan’ and on the BBC TV productions ‘Inspector Morse’ and ‘The Politician’s Wife’.

Carlos Bonell was born in London of Spanish parents and studied at the Royal College of Music with John Williams where he was appointed the youngest ever professor there in 1972. He gained prominence in 1981 through his recording for Decca of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Charles Dutoit. It was hailed as a “magnificent triumph” by Classical Music Magazine, UK, and awarded a coveted rosette by the Penguin CD guide. Since that time it has been repeatedly singled out as the finest version available.

Carlos Bonell has formed musical associations with a wide variety of musicians including guitarist John Williams, flamenco guitarists Paco Peña and Juan Martín, jazz guitarist Martin Taylor, violinists Salvatore Accardo, Pinchas Zukerman and Levon Chilingirian, and singers Patricia Rozario, Teresa Berganza, Cleo Laine and Philip Langridge.

His concert tours extend to many parts of the world including most European capitals as well as the United States, Israel, and South Africa. During the 1980s he formed his own ensemble, the Carlos Bonell Ensemble, which includes some of Britain’s finest musicians. The Ensemble, which has toured in more than 20 countries, is widely regarded as the most innovative and entertaining guitar-based ensemble in the world today. Carlos has appeared regularly with all the major British orchestras and at many international Festivals including The City of London, Aldeburgh, Helsinki, Israel, Tanglewood, Sydney, Istanbul, Hong Kong and New York’s Mostly Mozart Festival. Since 2000, Carlos’s concert schedule has expanded to include regular tours through Australia, the Far East and South America

Carlos Bonell’s programmes reflect a wide musical interest beyond Spanish music. His association with various composers, and interest in contemporary music has led to programmes which include music by Barrington (“Inspector Morse” music) Pheloung, the late Stephen Oliver (who composed a guitar sonata for him), Ottavio Négro, Armand Coeck, and John Tavener. His specially devised programmes including “Millennium Guitar: the first 1000 years” and “Mystery, Myth and Magic” have proved very popular around the world.

He is also greatly in demand as an outstanding teacher. Every year he conducts international teaching courses in Italy, Spain, the UK and Venezuela, as well as masterclasses during many of his concert tours.

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