Pianist | Pianist Gabriela Montero Coalitions Improv Classical Latin Beat With A Spicy

Gabriela Montero has attracted considerable attention in places traditional classics, but his name-value for the public are skyrocketing on the basis of a unique nation together on the steps of the Capitol in 2009.
It was then, at the inauguration of President Obama's', the talented pianist, born in Venezuela joined Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman and Anthony McGill to run (well, mime, to be honest), a John Williams new song composed for the occasion.
Since then, his career took off in all directions of interest, driven in part by several recordings for EMI, which focused on his skill as an improviser on baroque themes. Montero has spent the last part of his recital debut in downtown Chicago on Friday night at the Harris Theater for Music and dance, to share those skills with the public in an interactive way.
But the former child star also happens to be one of the leading exponents of the piano music of Latin America around, as amply demonstrated in nine pieces by composers from Cuba, Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela, all from his new album, " Solatino.
For four selections by Ernesto Lecuona (including his biggest hit, "Malaguena") introduces a bouncy rhythm and a subtle palette of colors that enhanced the flavor of these cartoons popular populist charm. The same could be said of his idiomatic verve to pieces by Alberto Ginastera, Ernesto Nazareth and Moises Moleiro.
Much work on the program, Ginastera's Sonata for Piano No 1 (1952), opens with a toccata marked Allegro could be subtitled "Prokofiev Visits to the Pampas." Montero left, and after three moves, a scintillating virtuosity that was bigger than the music of formidable technical requirements.
His performances of two Chopin Ballades, N. 1 in G minor and No 4 in F minor, were quite common in comparison, although it has sailed through the piano with disarming ease their difficulties.
Then came the program Montero told his listeners that she loves most - making them part of the show.
E 'among the rare classical musicians who have embraced improvisation. Despite a great lineage goes back at least as far as JS Bach, most of his colleagues have given to the art form of jazz musicians.
Montero usually members of the public to suggest songs that turns into a free-form creative music, so it was Friday. Too bad that there was a tower of Babel shouted that he recognized some suggestions. And no one at home seemed to be able to carry a tune, beyond a few bars of croaking ear. "It 's horrible!" Pianist warned the public.
However, he managed to transform the Chicago Bears fight song in a clever costume of Bach, in which the air has disappeared in the middle of Baroque figuration meters of lace. The Beatles' "Yesterday" has launched an interesting piece of false Rachmaninov, with rich harmonies and haunting lyricism. Who would have thought that Billy Joel "Piano Man" is like a Schubert Impromptu which eventually turned into a Latin jazz dance?
At the suggestion of some members of the public Venezuelan flags, Montero put a song popular in his native country to another the creation of Rachmaninov-style that could boast true form, direction and inherent musical appeal. It 'was the best thing that has made all the evening, and the crowd lapped.