Cristina Montes

Cristina Montes

Cristina Montes was unanimously awarded the 1st Prize at the Torneo Internazionale di Musica in Rome, and the 1st Prize at the 32nd Concorso Internazionale di Arpa Premio Valentino Bucchi. Also winner of the prestigious competitions Arpa Plus (2001), Juventudes Musicales (2003), Concours International Harpist Ludovico (2005), International Nippon Harp Contest (Tokyo, 2007), and Concours International Lily Laskine (Paris, 2011), she is the first harpist to achieve all these awards, setting herself up as one of the most important of her generation.

Cristina has worked with Z. Mehta, V. Gergiev and R. Chailly, P. Boulez, Sir Colin Davis, B. Haitink, and G. Dudamel, among others. She has been solo harpist of the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana of the Palau de Les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia, the Münchner Philharmoniker, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

She has performed recitals throughout Europe, USA, Japan, and South America; and orchestral concerts with the Paris Orchestral Ensemble, Simón Bolívar Orchestra of Venezuela, Orchestra of Santiago de Chile, Orchester des Theater für Niedersachsen Hannover, and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. In Spain, she has performed with the Cordoba Orchestra, Malaga Philharmonic, Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias, and the JONDE.

Her recitals and concerts have brought her to halls such as the Philharmonie in Berlin, Tonhalle in Zürich, Royal Albert Hall in London, Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, and Carnegie Hall in New York. Other highlights include her participation in the International Festival of Rio de Janeiro, Festival Música Sur, Fundación Juan March, and her concerts in the Alhambra in Granada and in the Royal Palace with the King and Queen of Spain in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Spain in the UN, broadcast live internationally.

Among her recordings, we can highlight her CD Obras para arpa, with 11 premieres by Spanish female composers; Voyage, released by NAXOS, with works by Bach, Sancan and Prokofiev; or her most recent recording for the Spanish label IBS Classical, which includes the harp concerto Pour le jour de l'an, with the Moonwinds Wind Ensemble, conducted by Joan Enric Lluna, and the Partita op. 80 for solo harp, both by Salvador Bacarisse.

Montes was born in Seville, where she began her studies. She furthered her training in London, and at the Akademie of the Staatskapelle in Berlin, under the direction of Maestro D. Barenboim. Since 2013, she has been Harp Teacher at the Conservatorio Superior de Música Joaquín Rodrigo in Valencia, and offers masterclasses at the Berklee College of Music, Birmingham Conservatoire, as well as Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln.

Cristina Montes Mateo plays on a Lyon and Healy Grand Concert harp, Salzedo model.