Ricardo Castro is one of Latin America's most distinguished musicians. As a pianist, conductor, and teacher, he enjoys international acclaim. He has performed for decades in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. Born in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil, Castro gave his first public concert at the age of four. At 19, he moved to Europe and studied piano with Maria Tipo and conducting with Arpad Gerecz in Geneva. He quickly gained international recognition and won first prizes at competitions such as the Rahn Competition (1985), the Pembaur Prize (1986), the ARD Competition in Munich (1987), and the Géza Anda Competition in Zurich (1988). He furthered his artistic training in Paris with Dominique Merlet, who became his mentor. In 1993, Castro became the first South American to win the Leeds International Piano Competition. This led to performances with orchestras such as the Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig, the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich and the BBC Philharmonic, as well as collaborations with personalities such as Sir Simon Rattle, Martha Argerich and Maria João Pires.

In 2007, Castro founded NEOJIBA (State Youth and Children's Orchestra of Bahia), a groundbreaking social program providing free orchestral and choral training to thousands of children and young people throughout Bahia. During the 2025/26 season, he conducted NEOJIBA on an international tour, performing at venues including the Philharmonie de Paris, the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. Castro's other engagements last season included returning to Bucharest with the Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra as conductor and soloist in Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 and his own piano and orchestration of Villa-Lobos's Bachianas brasileiras No. 4; conducting the Slovenian Radio Symphony Orchestra; returning to Geneva with the Camerata du Léman as conductor and soloist in Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 1, K. 271; and appearances in Florence with the Amici della Musica festival. In the second half of 2026, he will return to South America (Bogotá, Belo Horizonte) as a soloist with orchestra.

Alongside his artistic and social commitments, Castro remains dedicated to education. He has taught piano in Switzerland since 1992, and at the Haute École de Musique de Genève since 2020. He also teaches orchestral conducting at the piano at the Fiesole Music School in Italy. Ricardo Castro is an honorary member of the Royal Philharmonic Society.

Program:

Claude Debussy:
Estampes: Pagodes; La Soirée dans Grenade; Jardin sous la pluie

Heitor Villa-Lobos:
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4

PAUSE

Frédéric Chopin:
3 Mazurkas op. 59

Heitor Villa-Lobos:
Ciclo Brasileiro

Further information:
Tickets via www.pianodays.ch , at the advance ticket sales points of Ticketcorner or at the box office.