Rafael Puyana facts for kids

Rafael Antonio Lázaro Puyana Michelsen (born October 14, 1931 – died March 1, 2013) was a famous Colombian harpsichordist. A harpsichord is an old musical instrument that looks a bit like a piano but makes sound by plucking strings instead of hitting them.

Rafael Puyana was born in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1931. He started learning to play the piano when he was just six years old. His aunt was his first teacher. By the time he was 13, he performed for the first time at the Teatro Colón, a big theater in Bogotá.

When Rafael was 16, he moved to Boston, USA, to continue his piano studies at the New England Conservatory. Later, he went to Paris, France. There, he studied the harpsichord with a very famous teacher named Wanda Landowska. He also learned about musical composition from Nadia Boulanger.

Early Performances

Rafael Puyana played his first harpsichord concert in New York in 1957. In 1961, he performed in Boston as part of the Peabody Mason Concert series. People were very impressed by his playing. One reviewer wrote that his concert was the "greatest program of harpsichord music" they had ever heard. He made his debut in London, England, in 1966.

Working with Other Musicians

Rafael Puyana performed with many other talented musicians. These included the famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin, the conductor Leopold Stokowski, and the classical guitarist Andrés Segovia. Some composers even wrote music especially for him. For example, Federico Mompou dedicated one of his Cançons i Danses (Songs and Dances) to Puyana.

Teaching and Collecting

Puyana also shared his knowledge with others. He taught many students, including well-known artists like Christopher Hogwood and Elizabeth de la Porte. Besides playing and teaching, he loved to collect old musical instruments. One special instrument he owned was a harpsichord made in 1740 by H.A. Hass. This harpsichord had three keyboards!

In 1984, Rafael Puyana was a judge for the Paloma O'Shea Santander International Piano Competition. This is a big piano competition where young musicians compete.

Rafael Puyana passed away in Paris on March 1, 2013. He was 81 years old.

See also

In Spanish: Rafael Puyana para niños