Rafael Puyana

Rafael Puyana Michelsen (born 14 October 1931 in Bogotá) is a Colombian harpsichordist.

Puyana began piano lessons at age 6 with his aunt and at age 13 made his debut at the Teatro Colón in Bogotá. When he was 16, he went to Boston to continue his piano studies at the New England Conservatory. He subsequently studied harpsichord with Wanda Landowska and musical composition with Nadia Boulanger in Paris.

Puyana made his harpsichord début in New York in 1957. In 1961, Puyana débuted in Boston in the Peabody Mason Concert series.[1] One reviewer was so impressed by his performance, the sub-headline read: "Without any doubt, Rafael Puyana's recital at Jordan Hall last night was by far the greatest program of harpsichord music I have ever heard".[2] He made his London debut in 1966. Puyana has performed with Yehudi Menuhin, Leopold Stokowski, and Andrés Segovia. Composers Federico Mompou and Xavier Montsalvatge have dedicated compositions to him - in Mompou's case, No. 11 of his Cançons i Danses.

Aside from concerts, Puyana has taught such artists as Christopher Hogwood and Elizabeth de la Porte. Puyana also collects historical instruments such as a 3-manual harpsichord made in 1740 by H.A. Hass.

References

  1. ^ Boston Globe, 21-Feb-1961, Kevin Kelly, "Harpsichordist Puyana in Jordan Hall debut"
  2. ^ Boston Herald, 21-Feb-1961, Jules Wolffers, "Rafael Puyana harpsichord genius"

Sources