Spain’s internationally acclaimed piper and musician Carlos Núñez is making a rare U.S. appearance this fall, with concerts scheduled in New York City and at Boothbay Harbor’s historic Opera House. It has been several years since Nunez last toured the Northeast United States. He returns to Boothbay Harbor on Thursday, Oct. 24 for a  7:30 p.m. concert.

When the Los Angeles Times suggested that “... if it’s possible to become a pop star playing traditional music on bagpipes and recorder, Núñez could be the man,” it may have been an understatement. Few pop stars pack the energy, virtuosity, imagination, daring, and charisma into their concerts and recordings as Galician multi-instrumentalist Carlos Núñez does. He is the world’s most famous player of the gaita, the bagpipes of Galicia, Spain’s northwest, Atlantic Ocean-abutting region rich in vibrant, uniquely expressive Celtic traditional music.

“His last performance was unforgettable, and captivated the audience and staff alike, but I really never thought we’d ever be able to get him back to our intimate venue," Executive Director Cathy Sherrill said.

He fills stadiums in Europe! Musicians who’ve played here this fall see posters of upcoming shows in our lobby and have quietly exclaimed "Carlos Núñez! He’s incredible, and he’s coming to Maine?”

Like The Chieftains, who became Ireland’s foremost ambassadors of Irish traditional music by spreading its appeal internationally, Carlos Núñez has become Galicia’s foremost traditional music ambassador by doing the same. He takes that important responsibility seriously but without a shred of self-importance.

Born in 1971 and raised in the Galician port of Vigo, where he initially picked up the gaita at age eight, he both embodies and reflects the irrepressible spirit of his native music, and he also understands the pitfalls of traditional music becoming incrementally complacent in approach and insulated from innovation. Under those conditions, even the heartiest music can eventually slip into predictability. Carlos respects and seeks to safeguard Galicia’s musical legacy while also skillfully exploring fresh, fascinating realms of possibility for it.

In 1994, the band invited Carlos to perform with them at New York City’s Carnegie Hall. It was a highly auspicious U.S. concert debut by him, and since then he has toured and recorded several times with The Chieftains, including on their albums "Voice of Ages" (2012), "San Patricio" (2010), "The Long Black Veil" (1995), and "Santiago" (Carlos worked closely with Moloney in developing this Galician-sparked, Spanish-focused project from 1996). The latter two CD’s earned Grammy awards, and Carlos as a solo artist received Latin Grammy nominations for Os Amores Libres in 2000 and Mayo Longo in 2001.

The gaita is Galicia’s signature sonic symbol, dating back at least to the 11th century, and Carlos’s utter mastery of this bagpipe has been integral to its rising popularity inside and outside Spain. His ability in fingering the chanter to bend, extend, or cut notes, sustain and change tempos, explore harmonic nuances and tonal colors, and complement and counterpoint other musicians’ playing is nothing short of astonishing, and those musical hallmarks are not limited to his playing of the gaita.

Advance discounted tickets are $30, available only from the box office at 86 Townsend Ave. or by calling 207-633-5159. Regular $35 tickets are only available from the Opera House website: https://boothbayoperahouse.com/ and at the door if not sold out.  Doors for seating open at 7 p.m.