Castro, Juan (José) (1895–1968)

Argentine conductor and composer. He studied in Buenos Aires and with d'Indy in Paris. On his return he formed a quintet with himself as violinist and his brother as cellist, and in 1928 a chamber orchestra. He was conductor at the Teatro Colón 1930–43.

Works opera Prosperina y el extranjero (produced at La Scala in 1952); ballet Mekhano; three symphonies, Sinfonia Argentina and Sinfonia Biblica, symphonic poems ‘Dans le Jardin des morts’, ‘A una madre’ and ‘La Chellah’, etc., for orchestra; Suite brève for chamber orchestra; piano concerto; songs.