The new album Darlings of the Muses by The National Arts Centre Orchestra under the direction of Alexander Shelley is the first of four albums to be released over the next two years. This series will explore the closely intertwined personal and artistic connections between three musical giants: Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms. The album includes Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms’ First Symphonies, Clara Schumann’s Piano Concerto Op. 7, her first (and last) multi-movement orchestral work, and Gabriela Montero offers original improvisations inspired by Clara’s music. Gabriela Montero’s visionary interpretations and unique compositional gifts have garnered her critical acclaim and a devoted following on the world stage. Anthony Tommasini remarked in The New York Times that “Montero’s playing had everything: crackling rhythmic brio, subtle shadings, steely power…soulful lyricism…unsentimental expressivity.” Recipient of the prestigious 2018 Heidelberger Frühling Music Prize, Montero’s recent and forthcoming highlights include debuts with the San Francisco Symphony (Edward Gardner), New World Symphony (Michael Tilson Thomas), Yomiuri Nippon Symphony in Tokyo (Aziz Shokhakimov), Orquesta de Valencia (Pablo Heras-Casado), and the Bournemouth Symphony (Carlos Miguel Prieto), the latter of which will feature her as Artist-in-Residence for the 2019-2020 season.