Arts & Entertainment
A Few Notes on Athenaeum Featured Artist Gustavo Romero
While amid wrapping his summer concert series on July 31, this accomplished pianist took time out to talk about his musical ways.
Gustavo Romero, a native of Chula Vista, began playing the piano at the age of 4. Romero is now a professional concert pianist and the feature artist for the 2011 Summer Festival, which wraps up on July 31. The four-part concert series focuses on the work of Franz Liszt.
“I’ve been a musician for as long as I can remember,” said Romero.
Romero played his first big concert when he was just 10, an experience he can recall being a pretty big deal at the time, with a review by a music critic and all. Even now, with numerous large-scale, prestigious solo performances under his belt—such as with the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic—the critically acclaimed pianist admits to loving the experience of playing in small concert halls. “It’s more interesting when you play in a place where you can really feel your audience,” he said.
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When at home, either in New York City or Dallas, the technically focused pianist flexes his musical muscles on a Steinway and spends a lot of time studying the work of distinguished composers such as Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt.
So, besides his serious knack for tickling the ivories, what else is there to know about this accomplished musician? Here’s a few tidbits Romero shared with La Jolla Patch:
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Full Name: Gustavo Romero
Occupation: Concert pianist, professional musician
In a word, sum up your taste in music: Eclectic
What is your castaway disc (the one CD or album you would take with you to a deserted island)? (Romero chose a compilation by one of his favorite composers) The 48 Jewels, Johann Sebastian Bach
Favorite live music performance—artist, venue and year: Pianist Nikita Magaloff, The Frick Museum (NYC). “I saw this performance when I was in my early 20’s. The setting was so special because it was in the round music room of what used to be a large house in New York City. It was a well-balanced program. It all felt very old-world and special.”
If you were an instrument, what would it be and why? “The piano. It is the instrument that I love the most. Ever since I heard it for the first time, it was my favorite.”
Your guilty music pleasure: Radiohead
Name the three artists getting the most airtime on your iPod right now: “I’m really listening to composers right now. I would say [Franz] Liszt, [Richard] Wagner and [Vladimir] Horowitz.”
