Gabriella next up for a St Peter’s Church concert
STILL in the warm glow of its recent weekend Celebrating the Voice with Tara Erraught, Drogheda Classical Music continues delivering a stellar line up of artists between now and the final concert in March.
On Sunday 23 February at 7:30pm, Venuzuelan pianist, Gabriela Montero will give a solo recital in St Peter’s Church of Ireland. Performing a programme of Mozart, Schumann and Beethoven, Ms Montero will also add some of her own improvised works which have thrilled audiences around the world and become her signature skill. Often, these improvisations are inspired by audience requests, so come to the concert prepared with a melody in mind. “When improvising,” Montero says, “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 ”. On hearing her practice this unique skill, fellow pianist Martha Argerich convinced Gabriela that she could combine performances of conventional repertoire with her talent of improvisations.
Born in Caracas, she began playing the piano when she was 4 and gave her first public performance aged just eight. She went on to become an award-winning and bestselling recording artist as well as a soloist with the top orchestras around the world. The New York Times described Ms. Montero as “an exciting pianist, as she proved with her brilliant, wonderfully imaginative performances”.
This is the only solo recital that Gabriela will play in Ireland. She will join forces with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra the week before her recital in Drogheda and so this performance in Drogheda is much anticipated. Speaking ahead of the event, Pauline Ashwood said “I have been trying to book Ms Montero for four years and so I am delighted that she is finally coming to perform in our Series”.
Ms Montero will take part in a pre-concert talk at 7pm in the church before she plays the following programme:
Mozart Piano Sonata No. 10 in C Major, K. 330 Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, ‘Waldstein’ Schumann Kreisleriana Op. 16 followed by improvisations
Tickets are €19 / €17 conc when booked in advance or €20 / €18 on the door, with a student / child ticket still at just €5. Booking through Droichead Arts Centre on 041 9833946 or www. droichead.com with further information available from www.droghedaclassicalmusic.com
The Series is funded by the Arts Council and Louth County Council and run in partnership with Droichead Arts Centre. With sponsorship from the d Hotel and RTÉ Supporting the Arts.