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Grammy winner Otero back for Summer Festival events on Tuesday, Wednesday
Grammy-winning pianist Fernando Otero, whose October concert on the Green Guest Artists Concerts at DePauw University filled Kresge Auditorium, will return to Greencastle this week to open the 10th season of the Greencastle Summer Music Festival.
Otero will be joined by the festival's founding artistic director, cellist Eric Edberg, in free events at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday at Starbucks and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the sanctuary of Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church for the Kissinger Family Concert.
All festival events are free and open to the public, supported by donations from individuals, local businesses (including the Inn at DePauw), and an endowment established at the Putnam County Community Foundation by Joanne Kissinger and her family, in memory of her husband Paul. Wednesday's concert honors the Kissinger family for their leadership and vision.
"I'm tremendously excited to have Fernando back to perform as a solo pianist," said Edberg, the newly appointed Cassel Grubb Professor of Music at DePauw. "I met him when I attended several electrifying performances of his in New York. I'm thrilled that he accepted my invitation to return, and that he's asked me to perform several of his pieces for cello and piano with him--they are gorgeous! He's just returned from tours of Germany and Italy, and was very gracious about working Greencastle into his schedule."
On Tuesday at Starbucks, Otero and Edberg will give a preview of the music to be performed Wednesday night at Gobin.
"Last year we did two events at Starbucks, primarily as a way of reaching out to teenagers and college students," Edberg said. "They were a big success, and so we decided to do one every week. We will play some of the music from Wednesday's program, and talk with and answer questions from members of the community.
"The festival motto is 'bringing the community together with friends making music for friends,' and this is a great time for people to get to know our new friend Fernando in a relaxed setting -- and to get an autograph."
Otero and Edberg will play a full concert on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Gobin, with a reception to follow.
Argentinian pianist/ composer Otero found his voice as writer, musician and bandleader when at the urging of one of his music teachers, he began to incorporate the indigenous sounds of his native Buenos Aires into his work.
Otero, who has been hailed by the New York Times for his "brilliant playing" of original music that combines elements of tango, jazz and classical music, first gained prominence in 2000 with his debut and eponymous album, a collection of pieces recorded in Buenos Aires in the early '90s, before moving his residence to New York.
Afterward he released "Chamber Music," "Siderata," "Plan," "Revision" and "Expansion." In 2008 his acclaimed debut album on Nonesuch Records, "Pagina de Buenos Aires," was released.
After the release of "Material" in 2009 by Warner Music, with his new album titled "Vital," he won the Latin Grammy for Best Classical album in 2010.
The Greencastle Summer Music Festival brings the community together with friends making music for friends. Free concerts are supported by donations at 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday through Aug. 20 in the sanctuary of Gobin Church.