I have discovered my elation for a young pianistic talent. Her name is Gabriela Montero. What makes the difference between her and most well-known pianists is, that besides playing great works of classical piano music she also is a great improvisation talent. I think, she gives concerts and makes CD´s since a couple of years and she was discovered by Martha Argerich, who supported her career as concert pianist.
I would like to recommend some video-links here (there are many more recordings of her on YouTube):

http://www.youtube.com/user/GabrielaMonteroTV

She improvises mainly on classical themes (or folk songs), but sometimes also in jazz-style.

Here is an improvisation about the Goldberg-theme:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUfZeag_28g

On arte-tv I watched a very interesting concert-video showing her playing in Germany ("An evening with Gabriela Montero"):
http://videos.arte.tv/de/videos/ein_abe ... 12744.html

I just wanted to show my enthusiasm for the combination of classical music and improvisation. In times of our great old masters (the classical composers) it was absolutely normal to improvise in a public concert. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and all the great ones could do it in a magnificant way. So, for me that´s a sign of a true (or great) musician. We really should care for this old great tradition more again, so that it becomes a habitude and fashion again in modern times of the future!
Montero is so authentic and musical. It´s great!

Hi Andreas,
I remember you telling me about her before. Yes, she is good - I like her too. And probably you guys don't mind that she is pretty.

Pianolady wrote:


I don´t mind that at all, Monica. But her appearance is not the reason why I wrote this thread here.

I have just sampled the playing of this fabulous and beautiful talent @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBymhYqP3Gw . I do like the way shy plays very much, most especially the improvizations and jazz style heard elsewhere. Having said that, since I know the Ginastera Sonata, I can tell when she made some mistakes (like others who know the work will know for my performance) in each movement. But what bothers me most are the really big ritardandos at just the most difficult passages. Also in the Presto misterioso, there is a fast passage for ascending chromatic double major thirds in the right hand, and she started it in thirds and then continued it with just a chromatic single-note scale. These are issues that would only be appreciated by one who has the work in their repertoire. What's more important, is: Is she a brunette or a blond? Only her hair dresser knows. Just kidding. I don't think blonds are fabricated in Venzuela

Well, I don´t know too well that sonata and I haven´t played it myself until now. I just like her very clear and absolutely expressive way to play it. If she makes some little mistakes, that doesn´t play any role for me (at least not in that kind of pieces). She has a deep imagination of that piece and one could get the feeling, every note is played just in the right dynamic, agogic etc... That´s what makes the difference of a true artistic performance and a less one (not primary the number of right notes), let her be blond or brunette. The heck with it!

Hi Andereas, I like her, too. From her improvisation you can hear that nearly all kinds of music style (not only from the classical, but also from other genres) are imbodied in her. It is just amazing.... Long live Gabriela!!!

I too always find her improvisations to be clever, engaging and entertaining. And as has been pointed out, she has great versatility in switching among musical styles too. This ability is as great as her renditions of repertoire pieces.

David