João Carlos Martins
Encyclopedia
João Carlos Martins, born June 25, 1940 in Sao Paulo, Brazil is an acclaimed Brazil
ian classical pianist
and conductor
, who has performed with leading orchestras in the United States
, Europe
and Brazil
.
He is celebrated as the greatest interpreter of the music of Bach
next to Glenn Gould
, having masterfully recorded his complete keyboard works. For decades Martins has been engaged as the leading pianist at the Boston Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic
and other ensembles. The New York Times says, "Maestro Martins has lived a life of renown, challenge, tenacity and triumph sufficient to fill a lively memoir".
After his career as a concert pianist was derailed by injuries and accidents, he has successfully reinvented himself as a conductor, leading hundreds of performances worldwide including acclaimed concerts at Carnegie Hall. He is a conductor at the English Chamber Orchestra
and the Bachiana Filarmonica Orchestra. He is also notorious for being an initiator of social programs for underprivileged youth in Latin America.
At the age of 18, he was among the first Latin Americans to be invited to participate in the prestigious Casals Music Festival in Puerto Rico
. International attention grew in 1961 when, at 20, he gave a performance of the 48 Preludes and Fugues from Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier (a work that later became one of his specialties) in his debut concert in Washington, D.C. The reviewers were ecstatic.
His name quickly spread throughout the concert world-no surprise to concert-goers in Brazil, who already knew him as a child prodigy. Three years later he made his New York debut, followed by engagements with all major orchestras in the United States and recitals throughout the world, including sold-out performances at Carnegie Hall
and Avery Fisher Hall
(Lincoln Center).
Between 1979 and 1998, he devoted himself to recording Bach's complete works for keyboard on the Concord Concerto and Labor Records labels. He is considered the best Bach
pianist next to Glenn Gould
. His collection of the complete keyboard works of Bach, a 20 CD edition released on the Concord Concerto label and the most extensive of its kind ever recorded by a single pianist, resulted in spectacular reviews throughout the world including feature articles and cover stories in some of the most prestigious music magazines.
Aside of his awarded performances, in 1981, he was appointed Brazil's Secretary of Culture.
Afflicted by injuries and setbacks throughout his mercurial career, João Carlos Martins has shown a remarkable degree of perseverance and determination. In the meantime, while visiting Bulgaria, Martins was the victim of a random attack by thugs, receiving injuries to his skull and brain, causing the loss of use of his right arm. After undergoing numerous treatments, including a new version of biofeedback therapy on his right arm, he played a triumphant comeback concert in Carnegie Hall in 1996, appearing as soloist with the American Symphony Orchestra, performing Ravel and Ginastera.
In early 2000, he undertook an unsuccessful operation in his right hand, which rendered his hand to become essentially useless. Instead of retiring completely from the piano, Martins continued to play using the left hand and one finger of the right hand.
After his pianist career finished due to illnesses in both of his hands, he turned to conducting, despite very limited hand-movements. Since then he has been leading hundreds of performances worldwide including acclaimed concerts at Carnegie Hall.
Harold Schoenberg, Pulitzer prize-winning music critic of the New York Times said, "His technique sends fireworks in all directions... he does everything with extraordinary élan." The Boston Globe characterized him as "The most exciting player of Bach on the modern piano to emerge since Glenn Gould," and National Public Radio described Martins' Bach "as is in the same tradition of, say, Furtwängler's Beethoven or Bernstein's Brahms. The pianist has placed such a vivid stamp on the material that it is no longer the composer's alone… It's literally breathtaking.”
In 2004 was released a German documentary, "Martin's Passion" (96 min), , which won several international awards . The film accompanies João Carlos Martins during his darkest hours, tracing the early triumphs and dramatic events of his life. It is portrayed film sequences from his childhood and early years as well as some of his most impressive performances. In the movie, Martins' encounters with some of his friends including the soccer genius Pelé
and the legendary jazz pianist Dave Brubeck
.
An biographical drama film
, "João", is being directed by Bruno Barreto
and will have Rodrigo Santoro
starring and interpreting João Carlos Martins. The movie is under production and is scheduled to be launched worldwide in the first semester of 2012.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian classical pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, who has performed with leading orchestras in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
He is celebrated as the greatest interpreter of the music of Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
next to Glenn Gould
Glenn Gould
Glenn Herbert Gould was a Canadian pianist who became one of the best-known and most celebrated classical pianists of the 20th century. He was particularly renowned as an interpreter of the keyboard music of Johann Sebastian Bach...
, having masterfully recorded his complete keyboard works. For decades Martins has been engaged as the leading pianist at the Boston Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
and other ensembles. The New York Times says, "Maestro Martins has lived a life of renown, challenge, tenacity and triumph sufficient to fill a lively memoir".
After his career as a concert pianist was derailed by injuries and accidents, he has successfully reinvented himself as a conductor, leading hundreds of performances worldwide including acclaimed concerts at Carnegie Hall. He is a conductor at the English Chamber Orchestra
English Chamber Orchestra
The English Chamber Orchestra is a British chamber orchestra based in London. The full orchestra regularly plays concerts at Cadogan Hall, and the ECO Ensemble performs at Wigmore Hall...
and the Bachiana Filarmonica Orchestra. He is also notorious for being an initiator of social programs for underprivileged youth in Latin America.
Early life
A child prodigy, Brazilian pianist João Carlos Martins began studying the piano with José Kliass at the age of eight. The following year, he won a competition sponsored by the Bach Society of Brazil. Soon thereafter, the legendary Alfred Cortot proclaimed: "With this kind of tone, with the ability of his fingers, he could become very important for the history of piano playing."At the age of 18, he was among the first Latin Americans to be invited to participate in the prestigious Casals Music Festival in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. International attention grew in 1961 when, at 20, he gave a performance of the 48 Preludes and Fugues from Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier (a work that later became one of his specialties) in his debut concert in Washington, D.C. The reviewers were ecstatic.
His name quickly spread throughout the concert world-no surprise to concert-goers in Brazil, who already knew him as a child prodigy. Three years later he made his New York debut, followed by engagements with all major orchestras in the United States and recitals throughout the world, including sold-out performances at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
and Avery Fisher Hall
Avery Fisher Hall
Avery Fisher Hall is a concert hall, in New York City and is part of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts complex. It is the home of the New York Philharmonic, with a capacity of 2,738 seats.-History:...
(Lincoln Center).
Performing and Conducting Career
Recordings of Book I & II for the Connoisseur Society label followed soon thereafter and in 1968 RCA released Ginaster's piano concerto with Martins and the Boston Symphony under Erich Leinsdorf, a widely acclaimed first recording of this work appearing for weeks on Billboard's best seller list. Soon after he was a regular at the Peabody Mason Concert series and Boston Symphony.Between 1979 and 1998, he devoted himself to recording Bach's complete works for keyboard on the Concord Concerto and Labor Records labels. He is considered the best Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
pianist next to Glenn Gould
Glenn Gould
Glenn Herbert Gould was a Canadian pianist who became one of the best-known and most celebrated classical pianists of the 20th century. He was particularly renowned as an interpreter of the keyboard music of Johann Sebastian Bach...
. His collection of the complete keyboard works of Bach, a 20 CD edition released on the Concord Concerto label and the most extensive of its kind ever recorded by a single pianist, resulted in spectacular reviews throughout the world including feature articles and cover stories in some of the most prestigious music magazines.
Aside of his awarded performances, in 1981, he was appointed Brazil's Secretary of Culture.
Afflicted by injuries and setbacks throughout his mercurial career, João Carlos Martins has shown a remarkable degree of perseverance and determination. In the meantime, while visiting Bulgaria, Martins was the victim of a random attack by thugs, receiving injuries to his skull and brain, causing the loss of use of his right arm. After undergoing numerous treatments, including a new version of biofeedback therapy on his right arm, he played a triumphant comeback concert in Carnegie Hall in 1996, appearing as soloist with the American Symphony Orchestra, performing Ravel and Ginastera.
In early 2000, he undertook an unsuccessful operation in his right hand, which rendered his hand to become essentially useless. Instead of retiring completely from the piano, Martins continued to play using the left hand and one finger of the right hand.
After his pianist career finished due to illnesses in both of his hands, he turned to conducting, despite very limited hand-movements. Since then he has been leading hundreds of performances worldwide including acclaimed concerts at Carnegie Hall.
Harold Schoenberg, Pulitzer prize-winning music critic of the New York Times said, "His technique sends fireworks in all directions... he does everything with extraordinary élan." The Boston Globe characterized him as "The most exciting player of Bach on the modern piano to emerge since Glenn Gould," and National Public Radio described Martins' Bach "as is in the same tradition of, say, Furtwängler's Beethoven or Bernstein's Brahms. The pianist has placed such a vivid stamp on the material that it is no longer the composer's alone… It's literally breathtaking.”
Movies, Books
In 2001 a book, entitled "Conversations with Martins", was published about his life and career. It was written by noted pianist and Juilliard School professor David Dubal, to coincide with João's new recordings of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven.In 2004 was released a German documentary, "Martin's Passion" (96 min), , which won several international awards . The film accompanies João Carlos Martins during his darkest hours, tracing the early triumphs and dramatic events of his life. It is portrayed film sequences from his childhood and early years as well as some of his most impressive performances. In the movie, Martins' encounters with some of his friends including the soccer genius Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
and the legendary jazz pianist Dave Brubeck
Dave Brubeck
David Warren "Dave" Brubeck is an American jazz pianist. He has written a number of jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke". Brubeck's style ranges from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills...
.
An biographical drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
, "João", is being directed by Bruno Barreto
Bruno Barreto
Bruno Barreto is a Brazilian film director born in Rio de Janeiro. He has been making feature-length films ever since he was seventeen years old and remains one of Brazil’s most accomplished and popular directors to this day...
and will have Rodrigo Santoro
Rodrigo Santoro
Rodrigo Junqueira dos Reis Santoro is a Brazilian actor.-Life and career:Santoro was born in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro. He is of half Brazilian and half Italian descent. In 1993, as Santoro was studying Journalism at PUC-Rio, he entered the Actor's Workshop of Rede Globo...
starring and interpreting João Carlos Martins. The movie is under production and is scheduled to be launched worldwide in the first semester of 2012.