Cristina Altamura

In an age of exceptional young pianists, Cristina Altamura is distinguished by a style that is at once “brilliant, powerful and poetic, ushering in a new generation of pianism.” This theme is echoed by critics the world over. Conductors who have worked with her have called her “an orchestra’s delight” and “her artistry and charisma hold the audience till the last bow.” She brings the excitement of a rising star but with the sophistication of a seasoned artist to the concert hall.

The 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth (1810-2010) gave Ms. Altamura the perfect platform to enchant audiences with her own soulful interpretations of his music. It also marked her introduction to the Canadian audiences and press. Her "Hommage à Frédéric Chopin” recitals at such venues as Festival Classique des Haute-Laurentian and the Chapelle historique du Bon Pasteur in Montreal received high critical acclaim in addition to cheering standing ovations. Writing for La Presse, Claude Gingras noted “The young pianist of Italian origins opened the concert with seven of the twelve (Chopin) etudes from Op. 10. These pages from the piano repertoire are monstrously difficult, but Ms. Altamura performed them effortlessly and with a power that was astonishing.” Ms. Altamura’s Chopin Anniversary tour will culminate in a performance of the Piano Concerto No. 2 with the New World Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Canadian conductor, Michel Brousseau, in April 2011.

Cristina’s emergence on the concert stage is timely - presenting classical music with an edge by incorporating elements of ethnic and world music. By keeping the theme international, she proves she is today's young artist - a cosmopolitan pianist for our generation. In the 2007-08, Ms. Altamura premiered and toured with her innovative program, Extreme Latin! These concerts presented a fresh new look at the classical Spanish idiom, reflecting our ongoing fascination with the magic, exoticism and mystery of Latin rhythms and music. Ms. Altamura was invited to repeat and expand on this program at the National Gallery in Washington, DC in 2011 as part of National Hispanic Heritage Month. She will be joined by distinguished Latin percussionists and give world premieres by two prominent young composers of North and South American origins.

Ms. Altamura, whose background includes training at the Joffrey Ballet School, is known for her innovative, “out-of-the-box” programming. Most notably, she conceived a project fusing Bach with cutting-edge break-dance. She further developed the concept with Rokafella, a world-renowned, pioneer female break-dancer and choreographer. Their collaborative debut took place in June 2007 at the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival. That same year they performed for a thousand-plus audience at Central Park Summer Stage.

As a teen, the young pianist made her Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium) debut performing Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with conductor, Gisèle Ben-Dor. Since then, she has appeared as a solo and chamber artist in New York's main concert halls (Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Merkin Concert Hall etc…), and has performed in major festivals and concert halls in Europe, the Middle East, North America and the Carribean.

Altamura’s performance at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in December, 2003 in an unusual program of two piano concertos, led to a travel grant by Alitalia to embark on a concert tour in Italy. Soon after, she caught the attention of the Cuban conductor/composer Lopez-Gavilan who invited the young artist to present her program of Chopin Etudes and Gershwin Songs in Havana, Cuba at the historic Basilica de San Francisco. The program was subsequently broadcast on radio throughout Cuba and South America.

Following her successful European debut with the Bucharest Philharmonic, Ms. Altamura held the unique position as principal soloist of the State Philharmonic of Bacau. Her close musical association with Romania has resulted in performances and recordings with all of the major Romanian orchestras.

An award winning artist, Cristina Altamura has been a frequent guest on New York's WQXR. In 1997, she was the only American musician awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to Italy. Her winning, uncut audition tape was broadcast on the McGraw-Hill Young Artists Showcase, hosted by Bob Sherman. That same year, she was awarded a scholarship from the National Italian American Foundation in Washington, DC. Further live radio broadcasts followed on the Dame Myra Hess series in Chicago. Her illustrious teachers have included Marcello Abbado, Franco Scala, and Daniel Epstein. She received her bachelor’s degree from the Mannes College of Music with Stephanie Brown.