Latin American Classics Vol. 2
Following the 2021 Latin Grammy-winning album "Latin American Classics", and the 2023 Latin nominated album, "Afro-Cuban Dances", I am proud to present LATIN AMERICAN CLASSICS VOL. 2 - a continuation of my artistic mission to reveal the depth, elegance, and expressive power of Latin America’s piano repertoire.
"Latin American Classics, Volume 2 is more than just an album, it is an invitation to discover, to reflect, to celebrate and to embrace the many colors, textures, and rhythms that make Latin American music a vital force in the world of classical music."
Kristhyan Benitez
Videos
Kristhyan Benitez - Adiós a Cuba (Ignacio Cervantes)
Kristhyan Benitez - Latin American Classics
Brahms: Concerto no. 1 in D minor III MOV (Excerpt)
I'm a classical music pianist. – I won the Latin Grammy 2021 for "Best Classical Music" album. While I worship the classical music of the past, I am also devoted to playing music from my own country (Venezuela), including the classical music that no one knows about in Latin America, and its rich, vast and diverse tradition of folk and popular music, as a result of “MESTIZAJE” (mixed race: Spaniard, Indigenous and African).
There's a lot to discover and enjoy in a Latin American music playlist, so how fortunate am I to sail between the classical music world and the great musical traditions of Venezuela and Latin America.
Grammy-winning pianist and composer Kristhyan Benitez is captivating audiences worldwide with his dynamic and versatile performances, seamlessly blending Classical and Latin American repertoire with depth, passion, and charisma.
Benitez has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, including the Philharmonie Berlin, Davies Symphony Hall (San Francisco), Alice Tully Hall (New York), the National Center for the Performing Arts (Beijing), and Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles), among others. He has collaborated with world-class artists, from legendary conductors Claudio Abbado and Gustavo Dudamel to Academy Award-winning musician and producer Gustavo Santaolalla.
Maestro José Antonio Abreu, founder of El Sistema, hailed him as “one of the most important and brilliant leaders of the musical movement in Venezuela and throughout the continent.”
Renowned pianist and mentor Philippe Entremont described him as “an outstanding musician and performer, driven by commitment, talent, imagination, passion, and intelligence.”
Benitez’s third album and first under the Steinway & Sons label, Latin American Classics, won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Classical Album in 2021. His following Steinway & Sons album, Afro-Cuban Dances (2023), earned him a second Latin Grammy nomination for Best Classical Album.
An avid chamber musician, Benitez’s current projects include A Fuego Lento, a two-piano celebration of Latin American music with pianist Vanessa Perez, featuring arrangements by composer Stephen Buck, as well as a duo with Argentinian cellist Juan Sebastián Delgado dedicated to promoting original Latin American music for piano and cello.
With a deep commitment to exposing audiences to the exuberance and historical importance of Latin American piano music, Benitez continues to share its rich legacy through an active international schedule of performances, recordings, and collaborations—both as a soloist and chamber musician.
This second volume of Latin American Classics further cements his role as a leading interpreter and advocate of this vibrant repertoire.
Kristhyan Benitez is a STEINWAY ARTIST.
