Preview: Gustavo Romero, Schubert Sonata Series, Cape Town January 2023

Preview: Cape Town Concert Series presents Gustavo Romero playing 13 complete Schubert Sonatas over four concerts, January 2023, in collaboration with Ian-Burgess Simpson Pianos

Welcome to the new year of 2023. The classical music scene of Cape Town opens this Saturday January 7, with the charismatic virtuoso pianist, Gustavo Romero, playing for The Cape Town Concert Series [CTCS]. He is presenting the first in his series of Schubert Sonatas at the Baxter in its beautiful Concert Hall and is playing all 13 complete Schubert Sonatas, over four concerts. The series is a collaboration with Ian-Burgess Simpson Pianos. Romero performed 32 Beethoven Sonatas, last year [January/February 2022] in the Baxter, for the CTCS and it was spectacular. His proficiency is mind blowing. His magnetism and stage presence is electric. He received a rapturous ovation for his Beethoven sonata cycle and it looks we are in for a treat with the Schubert Sonatas. The cycle of concerts takes place: Saturday, January 7 at 11am and then 7pm on Wednesday January 11 and Friday January 13. Here is my review from Romero’s Beethoven concert, which I attended on January 24, 2022.  https://thecaperobyn.co.za/concert-review-virtuoso-concert-pianist-gustavo-romero-performing-32-beethoven-piano-sonatas-in-cape-town/ In January 2022, we were still subject to lockdown regulations, with limited seating capacity and masking. A shout-out to the CTCS for flying the flag for classical music, during the pandemic and to all of those patrons who wore the masks and supported the series and for supporting the artists.

About Gustavo Romero

The multiple award winning, Mexican-American concert pianist is from San Diego, with Mexican heritage (in Guadalajara). He was a child prodigy. His first public performance was at the age of 10 and he won an award at that young age. When he was 13, he performed with the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Zubin Mehta.  Imagine – age 13 and performing with the New York Philharmonic with the legendary Zubin Mehta.

About the Cape Town Concert Series [CTCS]

We are incredibly lucky that the Cape Town Concert Series [CTCS] facilitates tours by artists like Romero- rock stars on the classical music circuit – and we pay a lot less than they do abroad- paying in dollars and euros. It is no wonder that classical musical aficionados are jetting in to catch concerts arranged by the CTCS. The same as one goes to London or New York for musical theatre productions and to see plays, people are marking Cape Town as a destination for classical music and we have the CTCS to thank, and its incredible manager, Louise Howlett. Her passion and drive ensured that the CTCS series continued to operate during the pandemic – albeit with the lockdown restrictions at venues. The series was established in 1955 and is widely regarded as South Africa’s “most prestigious chamber music and recital platform”. This is from the programme notes for the extraordinary fundraising CTCS concert, presented in the Norval Foundation on November 5, 2022.  For donations and sponsorship, e-mail: info@ctconcerts.co.za for info. And to ring in the new year of 2023, the CTCS is bringing us the incredible Gustavo Romero. Programmes for the four concerts in box, below:

✳ Images supplied.