Gabriela Montero facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gabriela Montero
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Montero at Sala São Paulo (2007)
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| Background information | |
| Born | May 10, 1970 Caracas, Venezuela |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Pianist |
| Instruments | Piano |
Gabriela Montero (born May 10, 1970) is a talented Venezuelan pianist. She is especially known for her amazing ability to create new music on the spot, called improvisation. She often asks her audience for ideas, and then she plays complex musical pieces based on their suggestions. She also performs many well-known classical music pieces.
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About Gabriela Montero's Early Life
Gabriela Montero was born in Caracas, Venezuela. Her parents introduced her to the piano when she was only seven months old. She started playing individual notes with her finger. By 15 months old, she was already picking out familiar tunes. Just three months later, before she could even speak, she played the melody of the National Anthem.
Gabriela began formal piano lessons at age four. She gave her first public performance when she was five. At eight years old, she played her first big concert in Caracas. She performed a complete Haydn piano concerto with the National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela. At nine, she received a special government scholarship to study music in the United States. From 1990 to 1993, she studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. In 1995, she won third prize at an important piano competition called the XIII International Chopin Piano Competition.
Gabriela Montero's Concerts and Unique Style
When Gabriela Montero performs, she often invites the audience to suggest a melody. She then creates a brand new piece of music right there on stage. Sometimes, even the orchestra suggests a theme for her to improvise on. Gabriela says that improvising helps her connect with her audience in a special way. It's a very natural and spontaneous way for her to express herself. She has been improvising since she first touched a piano. For many years, she kept this special talent a secret.
Montero has performed with many famous orchestras. These include the New York Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. She has also played at major venues like the Royal Festival Hall in London. Her performances have taken her to the Edinburgh Festival and the Vienna Konzerthaus. She is also invited every year to the ‘Progetto Martha Argerich’ Festival in Lugano.
Gabriela Montero performed at the inauguration of U.S. president Barack Obama on January 20, 2009. She played John Williams' "Air and Simple Gifts" with famous musicians like Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma. Because of the cold weather, they used a recording made two days before the event. This was to protect the valuable instruments.
She also works with French cellist Gautier Capuçon. They perform together at various festivals in Europe. In August 2024, she performed her own Piano Concerto No. 1, called the 'Latin' Concerto. This performance was featured on BBC Radio 3's Classical Live. She also improvised on a Swedish drinking song during the show.
Awards and Recognitions
Awards for Music Albums
Gabriela Montero's first CD included classical pieces and her own improvisations. Her album Bach and Beyond featured improvisations based on Bach's music. This album was very popular and topped music charts for several months. In 2008, her album Baroque also received excellent reviews.
Her Bach and Beyond album won the "Choc de la musique de l'année" award in 2006. This award came from a French music magazine. She also won the Keyboard Instrumentalist of the Year award. In 2007, she received another award for her Bach and Beyond CD. In 2009, her album Baroque was nominated for two Grammy Awards. A more recent album from 2015 won the Grammy for Best Classical Album. This album featured her own composition "Ex Patria" and some freestyle improvisations. She was also featured on the TV show 60 Minutes in a segment called "The Gift."
Awards for Speaking Out
In May 2024, Gabriela Montero received the Václav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent. This award is given to people who bravely use their creativity to challenge unfairness and speak the truth. At the award ceremony in June, she performed her newest composition. It was called "Canaima: A Quintet for Piano and Strings."
Gabriela Montero's Compositions
- Op. 1, "Ex Patria", for piano and orchestra
- Piano Concerto No. 1, "Latin Concerto"
Discography
- Gabriela Montero: Montero: Piano Concerto No. 1; Ravel: Piano Concerto in G Major, M.83 (Orchid Classics, 2019)
- Gabriela Montero: Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 18; Montero: Ex Patria, Op. 1 & Improvisations (Orchid Classics, 2015)
- Gabriela Montero: Solatino (EMI Classics, 2010)
- Gautier Capuçon and Gabriela Montero: Rhapsody - Rachmaninov, Prokofiev Cello Sonatas (Virgin Classics, 2008)
- Gabriela Montero: Baroque (EMI Classics, 2007)
- Gabriela Montero: Bach and Beyond (EMI Classics, 2006)
- Gabriela Montero: Piano Recital (EMI Classics, 2005)
- Gabriela Montero: Gabriela Montero en Concert a Montreal (Palexa, 2006)
- Gabriela Montero: Chopin: Piano Works (Palexa, 2007)
- Clara - Robert - Johannes: Darlings of the Muses: Piano Concerto in A minor (Clara Schumann) (Analekta, 2020)
See also
In Spanish: Gabriela Montero para niños
