About this Artist
Gonzalo Grau began his musical studies at the age of three in Caracas. Along his musical journey, he developed proficiency on many instruments, from the viola da gamba and the cello to the flamenco cajón and his principal instrument, the piano.
A Berklee College summa cum laude graduate, Gonzalo has established himself as a multi-instrumentalist, and his varied credits include performances with Venezuelan music projects like Maroa, Schola Cantorum de Venezuela, Camerata de Caracas, the Simón Bolivar National Youth Orchestra, jazz icon Maria Schneider, and Latin jazz giant Timbalaye. As a music director, he leads two projects of his own, "Plural" (Latin jazz-Flamenco-Venezuelan fusion) and "La Clave Secreta" (salsa fusion, nominated for the 2008 Grammy in the Best Tropical Album category). As a recording artist, Grau has participated in over 80 releases that bridge both classical and popular music worlds.
His most recent releases include a studio recording of Golijov’s La Pasión según San Marcos (winner of the ECHO award 2010); the Rolando Villazón album México (winner of the ECHO award 2011); and Nazareno, featuring pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque—all released by Deutsche Grammophon—as well as music from West Side Story with the Labèque sisters (winner of the Choc the Classica) on the KLM label.
Wearing his composer and arranger hat, his projects include collaborations alongside Osvaldo Golijov for the opera Ainadamar and La Pasión Según San Marcos. Original works include the overture Pregunta y Respuesta, commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony (premiered in March 2008); Café con Pan, commissioned by the Chicago Symphony for the MusicNow concert series (premiered in November 2008); Nazareno (suite on themes by Golijov, scored for two pianos and orchestra), commissioned by pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque (premiered in January 2010); the oratorio Aqua, commissioned by the Bach Academy International, winner of the European Composer Award 2011, given by the Young Euro Classic Festival in Berlin (premiered in August 2011); Viaje, fantasia for full orchestra and Latin ensemble, commissioned by the Boston Landmarks Orchestra (premiered in June 2012); and Fantasía de Guayaba Habanera, a violin concerto commissioned by Johnny Gandelsman and the Community MusicWorks (premiered in May 2013).