Feb.11 GABRIELA MONTERO, at Gusman Center of The Performing Arts

A Venezuelan-American pianist.

Gabriela Montero has appeared with orchestras across the world from South America and the USA, Europe, to Japan and the Far East and she recently made her debut with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and Lorin Maazel.

Gabriela Montero offers orchestras that engage her a list of thirty-two concertos, but her recital repertory is rather odd by current standards: Short pieces vastly outnumber the few large works she plays (around 2005, these included one sonata each by Beethoven, Chopin, and Schumann).

Montero often invites her audience to participate in asking for a melody for improvisations. At times, also the orchestra may suggest a theme. "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".

More information and tickets:http://www.gusmancenter.org/events/