Josu Gallastegui
Pas de Basque
Legendary ballerina Allegra Kent considers Pas de Basque "one of the most beautiful ballet recordings ever." The collection of nineteen selections was originally composed by Josu Gallastegui for ballet dancers.
JOSU GALLASTEGUI – BIOGRAPHY
Praised by composer Aram Khachaturian as “a very sensitive pianist and extraordinary accompanist,” Josu Gallastegui has appeared in concerts throughout Europe and the Americas and worked with the world’s leading dancers and choreographers.
In the United States, he has performed at Carnegie Recital Hall, Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, Merkin Concert Hall, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. In addition to his concert appearances, Gallastegui is an accomplished and much sought-after ballet pianist. He has worked with Mikhail Baryshnikov, Cynthia Gregory, Cynthia Harvey, David Howard, Susan Jaffe, Allegra Kent, Gelsey Kirkland, Rudolf Nureyev, Anna Sokolow, and Ross Stretton among others. He has been an accompanist for American Ballet Theater, Dance Theatre of Harlem, School of American Ballet, the Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, and Madrid’s Real Escuela de Danza.
Choreographer David Parsons has said that Gallastegui has “goldfingers,” while Susan Jaffe describes his work as “deeply creative, wonderfully musical, and completely enjoyable to dance to.” Mikhail Baryshnikov has called Gallastegui “a superb musician with a remarkable sensitivity for ballet.”
Gallastegui’s recordings for ballet -- including his collection of original music entitled Pas de Basque -- are used in ballet schools and university dance departments throughout the United States, Europe, and Latin America. In 2007, Gallastegui released his ninth ballet recording, a double-CD set called Change of Scene. In spring 2006, he also released a general audience recording, Venezuelan Waltzes and Joropos, also availble at cdbaby.com.
When Gallastegui appeared in “Spanish Dance in Concert” accompanying dancer Mayte Bajo and performing solo works of Spanish and Latin American music, critic and author Marian Horosko called the New York performance “elegant and stylsh.” Madeleine Dale of Attitude described Gallastegui’s piano interpretations as “lyrical and lush with impassioned dynamics.” Gallastegui also recently performed with legendary ballerina Maya Plisetskaya at a gala in her honor in Madrid.
Gallastegui began his musical training at the Conservatorio Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga in Bilbao, and took First Prize in that city’s Annual Piano Competition. He later continued his studies in Caracas and the United States. Please visit www.balletmusic.com for additional information.
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