Miller Outdoor Theatre: Schumann’s Cello Concerto

Colombian-American Lina González-Granados has recently been appointed resident conductor by the LA Opera; she will hold the position through June 2025.

Praised for her “attention to orchestral colors” (OperaWire) and ability to create “lightning changes in tempo, meter, and effect” (Boston Musical Intelligencer), Lina has distinguished herself as a talented young conductor of symphonic and operatic repertoire. Her spirited interpretations of the orchestral repertoire, as well as her dedication to highlighting new and unknown works by Latin- American composers, have earned her international recognition, most recently as the recipient of the 2021 Sphinx Medal of Excellence, the Third Prize and ECHO Special Award of La Maestra Competition, and the 2020 and 2021 Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award.

As winner of the Fourth Chicago Symphony Orchestra Sir Georg Solti International Conducting Competition, Lina became the new Solti Conducting Apprentice under the guidance of Maestro Riccardo Muti, 2020 through June 2022. She has held positions as conducting fellow of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Seattle Symphony.

Her 2021-22 season highlights included returns to the New York Philharmonic and Rochester Philharmonic, as well as debuts with the National Symphony, Gulbenkian Orchestra, Spanish National Orchestra, Barcelona Symphony, Nürnberger Symphoniker, Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, Kristiansand Symphony, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Polish National Radio Symphony, Orquesta del Principado de Asturias, Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León and Tenerife Symphony. She also led the production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia at the Dallas Opera.

Lina is a fervent proponent of new works for chamber and large orchestra, especially music from Latin-American composers. She is the founder/artistic director of Unitas Ensemble, a chamber orchestra that performs the works of Latinx composers, and provides access to free community performances for underserved communities.

Born and raised in Cali, Colombia, Lina made her conducting debut in 2008 with the Youth Orchestra of Bellas Artes in Cali. She holds a master’s degree in conducting with Charles Peltz, a graduate diploma in choral conducting from New England Conservatory with Erica Washburn, and a doctor of musical arts in orchestral conducting from Boston University. Her principal mentors include Marin Alsop, Bernard Haitink, Bramwell Tovey and Yannick Nézet- Séguin.

Cellist Gabriel Martins has established himself as one of the world’s most compelling young artists, with a deep commitment to classical masterpieces. His artistry has been recognized through an extensive list of accolades, including the 2020 Concert Artists Guild – Young Classical Artists Trust Grand Prize, the 2020 Sphinx Competition Gold Medal, the David Popper International Cello Competition Gold Medal, the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians Silver Medal, the Schadt String Competition Gold Medal, the Orford Music Award, and the Prague Spring Czech Music Fund Prize.

His successes have led to a number of high-profile debuts including Wigmore, Carnegie, and Merkin Halls; 92nd Street Y; the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory; Maison Symphonique in Montréal; and the Arkansas, Memphis, Indianapolis, New Russian State, Pacific, and Phoenix symphony orchestras. According to legendary cellist Ralph Kirshbaum, he has “revealed heart, passion, intellect, and a finely-nuanced palette of colors in a compelling manner worthy of a seasoned artist.”

In 2021, Gabriel gave his first complete Bach Suite Cycle, in collaboration with Kaufman Center and the Alphadyne Foundation, playing all six Cello Suites back-to-back in New York City. In 2022, he gave his first complete Beethoven Cycle, in collaboration with pianist Audrey Vardanega and the Lakes Area Music Festival, performing and recording all of the works for Cello and Piano.

Additionally, he composes his own works and arranges many others. His “Songs of Solitude” received their world premiere in 2021 in collaboration with the Brooklyn Public Library, and his new cello arrangements of Bach’s Solo Violin Sonatas and Partitas have received high acclaim and a feature in The Strad Magazine.

Born of American and Brazilian heritage, Gabriel grew up in Bloomington, Indiana. He began playing the cello at 5, studying with Susan Moses at the Indiana University String Academy. He received his B.M. as a presidential scholar at the USC Thornton School of Music and his M.M. at the New England Conservatory of Music. He lives in Boston, with his partner and collaborator, violinist Geneva Lewis. He plays a composite Francesco Ruggieri cello, c. 1690, and a François Nicolas Voirin bow, c. 1880.