Agustín Pío Barrios 'Mangoré'
Paraguay's classical guitar genius (San Juan Bautista, 1885 – San Salvador, 1944).
What it is
A composer and concert performer, he wrote more than 300 works that blend European technique with Latin American airs, such as 'La catedral', 'Las abejas', 'Julia Florida', 'Danza paraguaya' and 'Una limosna por el amor de Dios'. He toured the Americas and Europe and died in El Salvador, where he spent his final years. Today his music is essential repertoire for classical guitarists worldwide.
Did you know…?
In 1932 he performed in Bahia, Brazil, as 'Nitsuga Mangoré': Nitsuga is Agustín spelled backwards, and Mangoré was a legendary Guaraní chief. He is considered the first classical guitarist to make commercial recordings on 78 rpm records.
Listen to
'La catedral', 'Una limosna por el amor de Dios' and 'Danza paraguaya', in recordings by Berta Rojas or John Williams.
Music & dance
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with — sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.