Cristina Braga
Encyclopedia
Cristina Braga is an internationally known Brazil
ian harpist. Working with various styles of both classical
and popular music, she has released fourteen recorded works, two of them also released in the United States
, one released in Japan
, and one in Korea
. She also performs regularly as soloist with many Symphony Orchestras, has won several prizes and is currently principal harpist at the Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro Symphony Orchestra, as well as teacher at the School of Music at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
From 1990 until 1993 she was a member of the Board of Directors of the World Harp Congress
, and made several tours of Europe along with concerts in Israel
and USA. She studied with Acácia Brazil at the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
, where she graduated with a Gold Medal Award. She also studied with Susann McDonald
at Indiana University.
In 2002 she was re-elected as director of the WHC-Geneva, organizing a workshop on Brazilian rhythms on the harp and performing in a show at the prestigious Victoria Hall
. She also performed in Zurich
and Montreux
. She was the first harpist from Latin America to teach and perform at the Munique Music School, and at the Mozarteum in Salzburg
, invited by Professor Helga Storck.
In Brazil, she was the first harpist to record a Samba
CD in which the harp is responsible for the whole harmonic base. She also played with the rock band Titãs
, in their successful unplugged live album
.
Since 2003 she has been the organizer of the "Festival Vale do Café", a festival of music, history and nature, in the mountains of the south of the state of Rio de Janeiro. In 2006 the festival included the 5th Latin-American Harp Festival, with musicians from all over Latin-America.
Cristina has also performed with many leading Brazilian singers such as Nara Leão
, Angela Maria, Peri Ribeiro, Moreira da Silva
, Zizi Possi
and Quarteto em Cy
, among others.
In 2008 she released the CD Paisagem, a collaboration with American cellist Eugene Friesen
, in which she interprets many of the most important songs of all time in the Brazilian Popular Repertoire. The CD was released by Biscoito Fino in Brasil and by Musimedi in Europe.
In 2010 she released with Enja Records
the CD Harpa Bossa, in many concerts in Europe
. She has already performed in many of the most prestigious Jazz Houses in Germany, including the Unterfahrt in Muenchen, the Birdland in Neuburg
, the Jazztone in Loerach, the B-flat
in Berlin
.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian harpist. Working with various styles of both classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
and popular music, she has released fourteen recorded works, two of them also released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, one released in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and one in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. She also performs regularly as soloist with many Symphony Orchestras, has won several prizes and is currently principal harpist at the Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro Symphony Orchestra, as well as teacher at the School of Music at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
From 1990 until 1993 she was a member of the Board of Directors of the World Harp Congress
World Harp Congress
The World Harp Congress, Inc. is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to players of the harp, with members in over 50 countries around the world. It was established in 1981....
, and made several tours of Europe along with concerts in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and USA. She studied with Acácia Brazil at the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro is one of the largest federal universities of Brazil, where public universities comprise the majority of the best and most qualified institutions...
, where she graduated with a Gold Medal Award. She also studied with Susann McDonald
Susann McDonald
Susann McDonald is an American-born classical harpist. In addition to a successful performing career, she has made a number of recordings and held significant academic and organizational posts.-Life:...
at Indiana University.
In 2002 she was re-elected as director of the WHC-Geneva, organizing a workshop on Brazilian rhythms on the harp and performing in a show at the prestigious Victoria Hall
Victoria Hall (Geneva)
The Victoria Hall is a concert hall located in downtown Geneva, Switzerland.It was built in 1891–1894 by the architect John Camoletti and financed by the consul of England, Daniel Fitzgerald Packenham Barton, who dedicated it to Queen Victoria and gave it to the city of Geneva.Currently, the...
. She also performed in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
and Montreux
Montreux
Montreux is a municipality in the district of Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.It is located on Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps and has a population, , of and nearly 90,000 in the agglomeration.- History :...
. She was the first harpist from Latin America to teach and perform at the Munique Music School, and at the Mozarteum in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, invited by Professor Helga Storck.
In Brazil, she was the first harpist to record a Samba
Samba
Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
CD in which the harp is responsible for the whole harmonic base. She also played with the rock band Titãs
Titãs
Titãs are a rock band from São Paulo, Brazil. Their best-known line up is the one in the album Cabeça Dinossauro : Nando Reis , Branco Mello , Marcelo Fromer , Arnaldo Antunes , Tony Bellotto , Paulo Miklos , Charles Gavin and Sérgio Britto...
, in their successful unplugged live album
Titãs - Acústico MTV
Acústico MTV is the second live album released by Brazilian rock band Titãs. The album features Arnaldo Antunes , Liminha, Marisa Monte, Fito Páez, Jimmy Cliff, Rita Lee and Marina Lima as guests artists...
.
Since 2003 she has been the organizer of the "Festival Vale do Café", a festival of music, history and nature, in the mountains of the south of the state of Rio de Janeiro. In 2006 the festival included the 5th Latin-American Harp Festival, with musicians from all over Latin-America.
Cristina has also performed with many leading Brazilian singers such as Nara Leão
Nara Leão
Nara Lofego Leão was a Brazilian bossa nova and MPB singer and occasional actress. Her husband was Carlos Diegues, director and writer of Bye Bye Brasil....
, Angela Maria, Peri Ribeiro, Moreira da Silva
Moreira da Silva
Antônio Moreira da Silva was a very reputed Brazilian singer and songwriter of Samba, also known by his nickname Kid Moringueira.- Biography :...
, Zizi Possi
Zizi Possi
Maria Izildinha "Zizi" Possi is a Brazilian singer from São Paulo, the daughter of Italian immigrants.She is the mother of another famous Brazilian singer, Luiza Possi.-Discography:All albums are in Portuguese unless noted otherwise....
and Quarteto em Cy
Quarteto em Cy
Quarteto em Cy is a Brazilian girl group originally composed of four sisters hailing from Ibirataia, a town located in the Brazilian state of Bahia: Cybele, Cylene, Cynara and Cyva - their real first names. They started performing in 1959, appearing on local television in that year...
, among others.
In 2008 she released the CD Paisagem, a collaboration with American cellist Eugene Friesen
Eugene Friesen
Eugene Friesen is an American cellist and composer.Friesen is a graduate of the Yale School of Music. He has been a member of the Paul Winter Consort since 1978, and performs with Howard Levy and Glen Velez as Trio Globo...
, in which she interprets many of the most important songs of all time in the Brazilian Popular Repertoire. The CD was released by Biscoito Fino in Brasil and by Musimedi in Europe.
In 2010 she released with Enja Records
Enja Records
Enja Records is a German jazz record label based in Munich, Germany. It was founded by jazz enthusiasts Matthias Winckelmann and Horst Weber in 1971....
the CD Harpa Bossa, in many concerts in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. She has already performed in many of the most prestigious Jazz Houses in Germany, including the Unterfahrt in Muenchen, the Birdland in Neuburg
Neuburg an der Donau
Neuburg an der Donau, literally Neuburg on the Danube River, is a town which is the capital of the Neuburg-Schrobenhausen district in the state of Bavaria in Germany.-Divisions:The municipality has 16 divisions:-History:...
, the Jazztone in Loerach, the B-flat
B-flat
B-flat or B may refer to:* B-flat major* B-flat minor* The musical pitch B* B-flat Jazzclub in Berlin, Germany...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.