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Gabriela Montero, Pianist4 p.m. Sunday, February 12, 2012 Gabriela Montero's visionary interpretations and unique improvisational gifts have won her a quickly expanding audience and devoted following around the world. "I connect to my audience in a completely unique way – and they connect with me. Because improvisation is such a huge part of who I am, it is the most natural and spontaneous way I can express myself". Today, in both recital and after performing a concerto, Gabriela often invites her audience to participate in asking for a melody for improvisations. Ms. Montero's engagements include acclaimed performances with the New York Philharmonic, LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, San Francisco Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall, Rotterdam Philharmonic, WDR Sinfonieorchestre Koln. In recital she has appeared in Berlin, Frankfurt, Dresden, Hamburg, Klavier Festival Ruhr, Salzburg Festival, Koln Philharmonie, Tonhalle Dusseldorf, Istanbul International Festival, Kennedy Center and Library of Congress in Washington DC, Ravinia Festival, National Arts Centre Ottawa, Orchard Hall Tokyo and at the 'Progetto Martha Argerich' Festival in Lugano where she is invited annually. Ms. Montero's 2011/12 season highlights include debuts with the Cleveland Orchestra both in Cleveland and on tour as well as the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. In addition she returns to Pittsburgh for performances with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. In Europe she recently toured with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and performs with Vienna Radio Orchestra and the Zurich Chamber Orchestra. It has long been a desire to take her improvisations to the next logical step of composition. Gabriela has enthusiastically embarked on this new phase of her career by composing a new work ExPatria for piano and orchestra. Her composition received its premiere performance in London and on tour in Germany with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields orchestra. In these concerts, her multi-faceted talents were featured along with her new work as Ms. Montero performed Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto as well as her legendary solo improvisations. Ms. Montero's recordings for EMI Classics comprises of one disc of music by Rachmaninov, Chopin and Liszt and a second of her deeply felt and technically brilliant improvisations. Her EMI CD Bach and Beyond is a complete disc of improvisations on themes by Bach which topped the charts for several months. In February 2008 her follow up EMI recording of improvisations Baroque was nominated for a Grammy Award and released with great critical acclaim receiving 5 star reviews from BBC Music Magazine and Classic FM. Gabriela's most recent recording Solatino released by EMI Classics in January, is devoted exclusively to works by Latin American composers. She selected the works of six composers, including Alberto Ginastera's Piano Sonata No. 1 as well as her own improvisations on Latin themes. Born in Caracas Venezuela, Gabriela gave her first public performance at the age of five. At the age of eight she made her concerto debut with the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra conducted by Jose Antonio Abreu and was granted a scholarship from the Venezuelan Government to study in the USA. She currently resides in Massachusetts with her two daughters.
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What the press are saying about Gabriela MonteroA Pianist Who Plays Around With the Classics Queen of improvisation DirectionsCalifornia State University, Fullerton is located at 800 N. State College Boulevard in Fullerton, CA Clayes Performing Arts Center is located on the South/West corner of the campus. Parking for this event is free. Park in the Nutwood Parking Structure (corner of Nutwood and State College Blvd.) Click here for a map to Cal State Fullerton.
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