NATIONALITY:

Venezuelan

Media Applause

“Crackling rhythmic brio, subtle shadings, steely power.”

— The New York Times

What is a piece of music you return to when you need to remember why you became a musician?

I was so young when music “chose me” that there wasn’t a specific moment when I had to make that decision. I particularly remember watching the film Amadeus and being incredibly moved by the Requiem soundtrack and Mozart’s D minor Piano Concerto. Therefore, anything by Mozart (and Bach and Rachmaninoff).

What is a work of art that you think more people should know about and why?

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. It’s a satirical take on Soviet society in the 1930’s and it’s a brilliant, humorous dissection of Soviet bureaucracy/censorship and the power of art and love.

How do you unwind after a performance?

I usually don’t have time to unwind, but if there’s anything planned right after a concert, it’s nice to have a glass of wine and meal with old or new friends.

What is a place in the world that has changed the way you think about sound?

My deep feelings about my country, Venezuela, have changed the way I relate to and make music. It’s become a powerful vehicle to tell the story of where I’m from and break the silence of conformity. I can’t imagine a stronger connection than that.

What is something you’ve learned to do in the last five years that has nothing to do with the piano?

Oh gosh. I’ve learned to be very organized and disciplined with my time. I don’t know if that’s an acquired skill but it’s certainly one I didn’t possess before my crazy career took over!