Cristiano Holtz, influenced by J.S.Bach, began his harpsichord studies when he was twelve years old, with Pedro Persone. When he was fifteen, following an invitation from Jacques Ogg, he moved to the Netherlands in order to pursue musical studies with him. He stayed there for ten years, working with various teachers such as Anneke Uittenbosch and Menno van Delft.
From a very young age his strongest influence had been Gustav Leonhardt, who exceptionally accepted him as his last official student. It was also very important for him to have worked privately with Pierre Hantaï, Marco Mencoboni and Miklós Spányi. This last later invited him to play and record pieces for two harpsichords by C.Ph.E.Bach.
In 1998, at the invitation of several music schools and Conservatories such as the Instituto Gregoriano de Lisboa and the National Conservatory of Music, he came to work in Portugal as a professor of harpsichord, clavichord and chamber music. Cristiano Holtz is often invited to give master classes at international venues such as Harvard University (Boston), Liszt Ferenc Academy (Budapest) and ESMAE (Porto). He performs mostly as a soloist on harpsichord, clavichord and occasionally on historical organs in various countries in Europe, Asia, South America and the United States, including appearances in prestigious international festivals. He enjoys joining friends such as Miklós Spányi, Concerto Armonico Budapest, Aapo Häkkinen, Helsinki Baroque Orchestra, Antonio Carrilho and Raquel Cravino to play chamber music.
His recitals and recordings (for Ramée, Bis, Aeolus, Editions Hortus, Edition Hera) have been highly acclaimed in the internacional press and have obtained several awards: 5 Stars Choir and Organ Magazine, Diapason d’Or(France 2020), Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik (Germany 2006 ), 5 Stars Goldberg Magazine (Britain, Spain), Record Geijutsu Award (Japan 2011), Fanfare Magazine (USA), and twice, “Excellent disque” in Classica Magazine (France).
From an early age, Cristiano Holtz has placed Bach at the center of his musical work.
Capa/Cover- J.S.Bach, composição livre, pintura à óleo por/ free composition, oil painting by Taís Kabat.
Texto em inglês/English Text- Cristiano Holtz/ Revisado por/Revised by David Crammer.
Texto em Português- traduzido e adaptado por Maria Bayley.
Cristiano Holtz gostaria de agradecer/would like to thank:
Miklós Spányi, Mariana Silva, Katharine Rawdon, Alejandro Reyes, Raquel Cravino.