Biography /

​Darío Tamayo has established himself as one of the most prominent emerging voices of a new generation of Spanish conductors specialising in early music. His repertoire ranges from the Baroque to contemporary music, with a particular focus on the recovery of Spain’s musical heritage. Born in Granada, he began his musical training at an early age. After completing his higher studies in Piano in his hometown, he moved to Barcelona, where he pursued advanced studies in Harpsichord with Luca Guglielmi at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC). He completed his training at the Haute École de Musique de Genève, where he studied for a Master’s degree in Baroque Ensemble Conducting (Maestro al cembalo) with Leonardo García Alarcón, graduating with the highest marks, receiving the jury’s commendation and being awarded the Prix Groux-Extermann.

 

As a conductor, he has led ensembles and orchestras including Berlin Sinfonietta, London Classical Soloists, Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Orquestra Barroca de Barcelona, Orchestra da Camera di Pordenone and Orquesta Filarmonía Granada. In 2013, he founded Íliber Ensemble, which he has directed ever since, developing an important artistic career centred on the recovery and performance of historical repertoire. In 2026, the ensemble was awarded the Sello FestClásica Prize. In 2022, he served as assistant conductor of the Orchestra Frau Musika in Vicenza, under the direction of Andrea Marcon. Since 2024, he has been Artistic Director of the Festival de Música Sacra de Granada (MUSAG). ​ As a harpsichordist, he has collaborated with some of the leading performers and ensembles on the international early-music scene, including Thomas Dunford, Leonardo García Alarcón, Lea Desandre, Julie Fuchs, Sandrine Piau, Laurence Kilsby, Aarón Zapico, Carlos Mena, Ensemble Jupiter, Cappella Mediterranea, Chœur de chambre de Namur, Cantoría and the Akademie Versailles of Collegium Marianum in Prague. Since 2020, he has been a member of Continuum XXI, a Spanish-German ensemble devoted to contemporary music performed on historical instruments, and since 2022 he has also been harpsichordist with the Orquestra Barroca de Barcelona.

 

He has performed at major venues and festivals across Europe and China, including the Opéra de Paris, Daning Theatre in Shanghai, Festspielhaus Hellerau in Dresden, L’Auditori and Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, the International Festival of Music and Dance of Granada, Palau de la Música de València, the Santander International Festival, Teatros del Canal in Madrid and the Quincena Musical de San Sebastián. His performances have also been broadcast by Arte, France Musique, RTVE, China Central Television and Finland’s national broadcaster Yle, and he has recorded for labels including IBS Classical and NEOS Music, among others. Alongside his artistic career, Tamayo maintains an active commitment to research and music education, with publications, lectures and masterclasses at institutions including the University of La Rioja, the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid and the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya. Since 2021, he has worked as répétiteur and conductor in several editions of the Baroque Academy of the International Festival of Music and Dance of Granada.