Notes /

Diego de Pantoja, a Spanish Jesuit born in Valdemoro, felt called from an early age to take his mission to the Far East. In 1601, alongside Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci, he arrived in Beijing, where both succeeded in gaining the favor of the Imperial Court through valuable gifts. Among these, a European musical instrument made a deep impression on the Chinese Court. At the request of Emperor Wanli, Pantoja became the first keyboard teacher in the Forbidden City, opening the doors to European music at the Ming Dynasty court.

Despite his seventeen years of influential work at the Imperial Court, Pantoja has remained in the shadows until recently. In this lecture, Rubén García Benito will explore the fascinating life and legacy of this Spanish pioneer, also delving into the soundscapes that marked his journey, from the Iberian Peninsula to Beijing, to better understand his role in the cultural exchanges between Europe and China.