Gustavo Núñez (born in
Montevideo
Montevideo (, ; ) is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Uruguay, largest city of Uruguay. According to the 2023 census, the city proper has a population of 1,302,954 (about 37.2% of the country's total population) in an area of . M ...
, 15 February 1965) is a
Uruguay
Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast, while bordering the Río de la Plata to the south and the A ...
an
bassoon
The bassoon is a musical instrument in the woodwind family, which plays in the tenor and bass ranges. It is composed of six pieces, and is usually made of wood. It is known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, versatility, and virtuosity ...
ist trained at
Musikhochschule Hannover
A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department (of a larger in ...
(Prof.
Klaus Thunemann) and the
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music (RCM) is a conservatoire established by royal charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, UK. It offers training from the undergraduate to the doctoral level in all aspects of Western Music including pe ...
(Kerry Camden). He has been principal bassoon of the
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (, ) is a Dutch symphony orchestra, established in 1888 at the Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw (concert hall). It is considered one of the world's leading orchestras. It was known as the Concertgebouw Orchestra u ...
, together with Ronald Karten, since 1995.
In Madrid, at the Reina Sofía School of Music, Núñez is referred to as 'el gran profesor de fagot' (the great professor of bassoon''
')
in recognition of his expertise and contribution to the field.
He holds a professorship at the
Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf,
Germany, and he has held the Bassoon Chair at the
Reina Sofía School of Music’s Madrid
Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...
since 2016.
In addition, he serves as a permanent guest lecturer at the
Conservatory of Amsterdam.
Núñez gives masterclasses and has made solo appearances in the US, Canada, various South American countries, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, Australia, South Korea and Japan and is considered to be one of the worlds greatest bassoon players.
Early life
Gustavo Núñez family is greatly connected to
classical music
Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be #Relationship to other music traditions, distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical mu ...
. His grandfather, a clarinetist who emigrated from
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
to
Argentina
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
with his five children, passed on his musical legacy, as four of his children, including Gustavo's father, became professional musicians. His father, originally from
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela, simply Santiago, or Compostela, in the province of Province of A Coruña, A Coruña, is the capital of the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Galicia (Spain), Galicia, in northwestern Spain. The city ...
,
Galicia, Spain, was a bassoonist with the Orquesta del Sodre in
Montevideo
Montevideo (, ; ) is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Uruguay, largest city of Uruguay. According to the 2023 census, the city proper has a population of 1,302,954 (about 37.2% of the country's total population) in an area of . M ...
, as were Gustavo's grandfather and three brothers. His father was not only a prominent bassoonist but also one of the few bassoon teachers in
Venezuela
Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...
at the time, establishing an influential
bassoon
The bassoon is a musical instrument in the woodwind family, which plays in the tenor and bass ranges. It is composed of six pieces, and is usually made of wood. It is known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, versatility, and virtuosity ...
program in
Latin America
Latin America is the cultural region of the Americas where Romance languages are predominantly spoken, primarily Spanish language, Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese. Latin America is defined according to cultural identity, not geogr ...
.
Gustavo started learning to play the violin at the age of five, but always wanted to play the bassoon, following in his father’s footsteps.
However, due to the size of the instrument, he had to wait until he was physically big enough to handle it.
In 1969, the Núñez family had to move from Uruguay because his father, who was on the blacklist of the Uruguayan intelligence service at the time, refused to perform at the American embassy with his wind quintet as a protest against the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
, leading to serious consequences for the family.
They moved to
Caracas
Caracas ( , ), officially Santiago de León de Caracas (CCS), is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas (or Greater Caracas). Caracas is located along the Guaire River in the northern p ...
,
Venezuela
Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...
, after Gustavo's father was offered a position with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Venezuela. In Caracas, Gustavo attended a music-focused school where his father also taught music theory. At the age of 13 he began formal lessons.
At the age of 16, Gustavo left Venezuela to continue his studies in England with Kerry Camden, son of
Archie Camden, who was the teacher of Brian Pollard.
Despite financial struggles, Gustavo lived with his brother, who was also studying music, and worked hard to pursue his passion. After two years, he returned to
Caracas
Caracas ( , ), officially Santiago de León de Caracas (CCS), is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas (or Greater Caracas). Caracas is located along the Guaire River in the northern p ...
to earn money, playing second bassoon with the Orquesta Sinfónica Municipal de Caracas at the age of 18. However, his ambition led him to study under
Klaus Thunemann in Hannover at the prestigious
Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover
Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media (, abbreviated to HMTMH) is a university of performing arts and media in Hanover, the capital of Lower Saxony, Germany. Dating to , it has reorganised and changed names as it developed over the years, ...
, where he dedicated himself to intense practice, studying eight to nine hours a day. Thunemann played beautifully, never forced, and with a round sound—I learned the most from him'','
Núñez later reflected.
Career
Núñez career as a symphonic musician began in 1979, at the age of 14 in
Caracas
Caracas ( , ), officially Santiago de León de Caracas (CCS), is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas (or Greater Caracas). Caracas is located along the Guaire River in the northern p ...
,
Venezuela
Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...
, where he was hired by the now famous
Simón Bolívar Orchestra.
His professional career in Europe took off after he won two prestigious awards during his studies: the Prix Suisse from the
Geneva International Music Competition
The Geneva International Music Competition () is one of the world's leading international music competitions, founded in 1939. In 1957, it was one of the founding members of the World Federation of International Music Competition (WFIMC), whose he ...
(1987) and first prize at the “Carl Maria von Weber” Competition in
Munich
Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...
(1987). These accolades quickly helped solidify his reputation as one of the leading bassoonists of his generation.
He was the principal bassoonist in the orchestra of the
Staatstheater Darmstadt
The Staatstheater Darmstadt (Darmstadt State Theatre) is a theatre company and building in Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany, presenting opera, ballet, plays and concerts. It is funded by the German states, state of Hesse and the city of Darmstadt. Its hi ...
(1988–1989) and the
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra
The Bamberg Symphony (German: Bamberger Symphoniker – Bayerische Staatsphilharmonie) is a renowned German orchestra top-class orchestra that has been residing in Bamberg since its foundation in 1946 and travels the world as a touring orchestra. ...
(1989–1995).
During his time in Germany, he applied for the position of principal bassoonist with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam, a position he won and has held for over 25 years.
In addition to his orchestral work, Núñez has been deeply committed to teaching. He began teaching in 1999, first at the
Folkwang University of the Arts
The Folkwang University of the Arts is a university for music, theater, dance, design, and academic studies, located in four German cities of North Rhine-Westphalia. Since 1927, its traditional main location has been in the former Werden Abbey in ...
in
Essen
Essen () is the central and, after Dortmund, second-largest city of the Ruhr, the largest urban area in Germany. Its population of makes it the fourth-largest city of North Rhine-Westphalia after Cologne, Düsseldorf and Dortmund, as well as ...
, and later at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf. In 2016, he was invited to succeed his former teacher, Klaus Thunemann, as professor of bassoon at the
Reina Sofía School of Music
The Reina Sofía School of Music (Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía in Spanish) is a private music school founded in Madrid, Spain, in 1991 by Paloma O'Shea. It belongs to the Albéniz Foundation, and it bears the name of its Honorary Pr ...
in
Madrid
Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...
.
While he teaches only bassoon in Düsseldorf, his role in Madrid is broader, as he also serves as a professor of
chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of Musical instrument, instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a Great chamber, palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music ...
, which differs from orchestral music in that it involves smaller ensembles and closer collaboration between the musicians.
Beyond his orchestral and teaching career, Núñez has collaborated with Ben Bell and the Amsterdam Bassoon Center to create the Bell Amsterdam model bassoon, tailored to his specifications. This partnership reflects his influence and expertise in bassoon craftsmanship, and the model is available for trial at the Amsterdam Bassoon Center.
Núñez has made numerous recordings, showcasing works by composers such as
Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...
,
Vivaldi
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an Italian composer, virtuoso violinist, impresario of Baroque music and Roman Catholic priest. Regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers, Vivaldi's influence during his lif ...
,
Devienne,
Villa-Lobos, and
Gubaidulina. His recordings include collaborations with the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra and the
Academy of St Martin in the Fields.
Though based in Europe, Núñez has maintained a strong connection to his native
Uruguay
Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast, while bordering the Río de la Plata to the south and the A ...
. In 1996, he returned to
Montevideo
Montevideo (, ; ) is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Uruguay, largest city of Uruguay. According to the 2023 census, the city proper has a population of 1,302,954 (about 37.2% of the country's total population) in an area of . M ...
for the first time to perform publicly, with a series of concerts at the
Palacio Taranco. Since then, he has continued to perform in
Uruguay
Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast, while bordering the Río de la Plata to the south and the A ...
, finding personal fulfilment in these performances and maintaining ties to his homeland.
Instruments
Gustavo Núñez plays on two bassoons, both crafted by the renowned German instrument maker Heckel, known for its dominance in the field of bassoon manufacturing. His primary bassoon, acquired in 1987 during his student years, is modeled after the instrument used by his teacher,
Klaus Thunemann, but with a different color. Núñez opted for a dark brown instrument, as opposed to Thunemann’s red bassoon. Núñez once said of his instrument: ''"It's so dark red that you might think it's brown."''
He further remarked that this bassoon has been a constant companion throughout his career.
His second instrument, also a Heckel and similarly brown, was acquired in 2011 after a five-year wait, which he described as lengthy—though nowadays the wait time for a new Heckel bassoon is even longer, stretching to 15 years.
Although visually identical, Núñez notes subtle differences between the two bassoons, both in playability and tone. Depending on the repertoire, he chooses one instrument over the other. Switching between instruments, however, requires a period of adjustment. ''"When I switch bassoons, I need to practice on it for days to rediscover my embouchure and to figure out how to get the sound I want,"'' he explained.
Competition record
* 1987
Geneva International Music Competition
The Geneva International Music Competition () is one of the world's leading international music competitions, founded in 1939. In 1957, it was one of the founding members of the World Federation of International Music Competition (WFIMC), whose he ...
, Prix Suisse.
* 1987 Carl Maria von Weber IBC, 1st prize
Recordings
*
Vivaldi
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an Italian composer, virtuoso violinist, impresario of Baroque music and Roman Catholic priest. Regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers, Vivaldi's influence during his lif ...
- 6 Bassoon Concertos. Gustavo Núñez,
Academy of St Martin in the Fields
The Academy of St Martin in the Fields (ASMF) is an English orchestra, based in London.
John Churchill, then Master of Music at the London church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, and Neville Marriner founded the orchestra as "The Academy of St. M ...
.
PENTATONE PTC 5186539 (2016)
* The Barber of Neville. Wind concertos by
Howard Blake
Howard David Blake (born 28 October 1938) is an English composer, conductor, and pianist whose career has spanned more than 50 years and produced more than 650 works. Blake's most successful work is his soundtrack for Channel 4’s 1982 film ' ...
.
Sir Neville Marriner,
Andrew Marriner
Andrew Marriner (born 25 February 1954[MARRINER, Andrew Stephen](_blank)
''Who's Who 2 ...
,
Jaime Martin, Gustavo Núñez,
Academy of St Martin in the Fields
The Academy of St Martin in the Fields (ASMF) is an English orchestra, based in London.
John Churchill, then Master of Music at the London church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, and Neville Marriner founded the orchestra as "The Academy of St. M ...
.
PENTATONE PTC 5186506 (2013)
* ''Capricho'', Bassoon Concertos, Channel Classics Records, 2012
*
Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...
- Wind Concertos. Jacob Slagter, Emily Beynon, Alexei Ogrintchouk, Henk Rubingh, Gustavo Núñez,
Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra.
PENTATONE PTC 5186079 (2005)
* ''Festliches Barock (''1991)
References
External links
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nunez, Gustavo
Uruguayan classical bassoonists
Players of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
1965 births
Living people
Alumni of the Royal College of Music
Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover alumni