Steinway & Sons is thrilled to release the second volume of Kristhyan Benitez’s Latin Grammy-winning album “Latin American Classics,” bringing together masterworks from Venezuela, Cuba, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil.

Each piece reflects a unique voice and cultural identity, yet together they weave a powerful narrative that transcends borders and time.

On August 1, 2025 STEINWAY & SONS releases Latin American Classics, Vol. 2 (STNS 30251) by pianist Kristhyan Benitez, following up on his Latin Grammy-winning album, Latin American Classics, Vol. 1,  and the Latin Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban Dances.  

Benitez describes the album as a continuation of his artistic mission to reveal the depth, elegance, and expressive power of Latin America's piano repertoire. 

 

“By exposing the brilliance of these often-overlooked composers, we not only honor the past, we help transform the future. I believe that by expanding the classical music canon to include the diverse and sophisticated contributions of Latin America, we nourish and enrich the musical universe for generations to come.

As a Steinway Artist and a Latin American pianist, this is both a personal and artistic calling. Latin American Classics, Volume 2 is more than just an album, it is an invitation to discover, to reflect, to celebrate and to embrace the many colors, textures, and rhythms that make Latin American music a vital force in the world of classical music”    

 Kristhyan Benitez

 

ALBUM CREDITS

Latin American Classics, Vol. 2 / Kristhyan Benitez • STNS 30251

Release Date: 08/01/2025

Recorded 2024 at Steinway Hall, New York City.
Producer: Jon Feidner
Engineers: Joshua Frey, Lauren Sclafani, Melody Nieun Hwang 

Editing: Jon Feidner, Renée Oakford & Kazumi Umeda
Project Coordinator: Renée Oakford
Mixing and Mastering: Daniel Shores

Executive Producers: Eric Feidner, Jon Feidner
Art Direction: Jackie Fugere
Design: Cover to Cover Design, Anilda Carrasquillo

Photo of Kristhyan Benitez: Camila Ayala Terán 
Piano Technician: John Veitch

Piano: Steinway Model D #607799 (New York)

About the Artist

Grammy-winning pianist and composer Kristhyan Benitez is captivating audiences worldwide with his dynamic and versatile performances, seamlessly blending Classical and Latin American repertoire with depth, passion, and charisma.

Benitez has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, including the Philharmonie Berlin, Davies Symphony Hall (San Francisco), Alice Tully Hall (New York), the National Center for the Performing Arts (Beijing), and Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles), among others. He has collaborated with world-class artists, from legendary conductors Claudio Abbado and Gustavo Dudamel to Academy Award-winning musician and producer Gustavo Santaolalla. Maestro José Antonio Abreu, founder of El Sistema, hailed him as “one of the most important and brilliant leaders of the musical movement in Venezuela and throughout the continent.” Renowned pianist and mentor Philippe Entremont described him as “an outstanding musician and performer, driven by commitment, talent, imagination, passion, and intelligence.”

Benitez’s third album and first under the Steinway & Sons label, Latin American Classics, won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Classical Album in 2021. His following Steinway & Sons album, Afro-Cuban Dances (2023), earned him a second Latin Grammy nomination for Best Classical Album.

An avid chamber musician, Benitez’s current projects include A Fuego Lento, a two-piano celebration of Latin American music with pianist Vanessa Perez, featuring arrangements by composer Stephen Buck, as well as a duo with Argentinian cellist Juan Sebastián Delgado dedicated to promoting original Latin American music for piano and cello. 

With a deep commitment to exposing audiences to the exuberance and historical importance of Latin American piano music, Benitez continues to share its rich legacy through an active international schedule of performances, recordings, and collaborations—both as a soloist and chamber musician. 

This second volume of Latin American Classics further cements his role as a leading interpreter and advocate of this vibrant repertoire.

Kristhyan Benitez is a Steinway Artist. 

About Steinway & Sons label

The STEINWAY & SONS music label produces exceptional albums of solo piano music across all genres. The label — a division of STEINWAY & SONS, maker of the world’s finest pianos — is a perfect vessel for producing the finest quality recordings by some of the most talented pianists in the world.