During over 25 years of artistic career Brazilian pianist has become one of the most popular and repeatedly sought-after soloists.

Although the pianist Cristina Ortiz has been resident in the UK for many years, it is the passion, spontaneity and allure so characteristic of her Brazilian cultural heritage, which are central to her music-making.

That passion encompasses the broadest range of repertoire - and a commitment not only to solo recitals and concertos but also to chamber music with partners such as Antonio Meneses, Truls Mork, Kurt Nikkanen and Uto Ughi. It is also a passion, which she has an enviable gift for communicating through masterclasses and workshops - proving a source of real inspiration for students throughout the musical world.

In recent years Ms Ortiz has particularly turned her attention to performances in which she directs from the keyboard - in concert, for example, with the Prague Chamber Orchestra at Vienna's Musikverein and on disc with the Consort of London on Collins Classics. At the same time she has continued to work with the greatest conductors - including, for example, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Neeme Järvi, Mariss Jansons, David Zinman - and orchestras such as the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, Czech Philharmonic and Philharmonia.

In concerts and recordings her commitment to Brazilian music is well-evidenced - from the five Villa Lobos piano concertos which she has recorded for Decca to the very successful American premiere in 1996 of Camargo Guarnieri's Choro at Carnegie Hall under Dennis Russell Davies. At the same time she has enjoyed sustained public and critical acclaim for her interpretation of a wealth of the most significant piano literature - from Beethoven to Bernstein; and she has also brought to the public's attention a number of important but lesser known works, including, for example, a recording of solo piano pieces by Clara Schumann made in 1997 for Carlton Classics.

Last season saw her collaborating with the Prague Symphony (in the George Enescu Festival, Bucharest); playing Schulhoff’s Piano Concerto in Prague with the Czech Philharmonic under Lawrence Foster, and concerts with the Bilbao, RTSI-Lugano and Stavanger Symphony Orchestras. Her recital schedule included appearances in Poland, Spain, Turkey, Finland and the United Kingdom and Ms Ortiz also made a return visit to Fort Worth to play a recital for the Cliburn Concerts series, having been the gold medallist at the III Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.

Highlights of the 2004-05 season include concerts with Stuttgart Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Radio Sinfonie Orchestra Berlin, BBC Concert Orchestra and the Gulbenkian Orchestra. Recital highlights include a featured concert as part of the 59th International Chopin Piano Festival in Duszniki Zdroj and the International Piano Series at London’s South Bank.