Eminent artist in residence and Brazilian pianist Eduardo Monteiro will tickle the ivories for students and the public at the University of Wyoming at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Buchanan Center for Performing Arts recital hall.
Monteiro brings the art of piano to the stage in this free event, playing classic pieces such as Beethoven’s “Piano Sonata in E major, Op 109,” Debussy’s “Three Preludes” and “Death of Isolde” by Franz Liszt from the last scene of Richard Wagner’s “Tristan and Isolde.”
He will also feature Brazilian music, including “Sonata No. 1” from Francisco Mignone and two pieces from Heitor Villa-Lobos, “Impressôes Seresteiras” and “Hommage à Chopin.” Monteiro also spent the day on Thursday to teach classes to UW students.
Monteiro gained his first recognition in piano competitions, the first in 1989 at the Cologne International Piano Competition in Germany.
“Competition is a very important way for pianists to find a career,” said Monteiro.
Achieving recognition through competitions is difficult, he said, and winning multiple times is also hard. After performing in several international competitions he decided he needed a change of pace and began playing around the world. Monteiro has traveled to play in many parts of Brazil and South America, the U.S. and countries in Europe, such as France, Portugal, England, Italy and more.
After traveling to play, he returned to São Paulo to teach piano at the University of São Paulo, Brazil’s premier public university.
“Naturally, I always like to teach a lot and [it] was always sort of pleasure for me to teach since I was very young,” said Monteiro. “And since I entered the school, I was really happy to make this my day, my week, my whole day-by-day work.”
Since he joined the university, he has become the Dean of the School of Arts and Communication, a role which keeps him busy with administrative work. Still, he is very involved with his students and other work.
Monteiro loves to teach; he finds time to help students learn while continuing his own skills with the piano. As a college dean, it is hard to balance piano practice, teaching classes and administration work but he manages.
Where is his favorite place to perform? Monteiro found it hard to pick a favorite, but had an answer as to where it’s hardest to perform.
“I think the hardest place to play in is your own city,” said Monteiro while laughing.
When you’re a foreigner, it’s easy to play because people don’t know you personally, he said, but when you play in a city where your friends and family are watching, it’s a lot harder.
Monteiro is excited to be playing the piano and sharing his passion to the community of Laramie and the college.
