Rafael Gutiérrez-Vélez is a Mexican pianist, conductor and educator based in Stuttgart. His work brings together performance, long-term artistic projects, teaching and the creation of new musical communities.
He studied at the Purcell School in London, the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and the University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart, where he is completing his Konzertexamen. He has performed in Europe, Mexico, Russia and Australia, both as a soloist and in collaborative projects.
In 2026, he founded the AETHERIMA Orchestra, bringing together students, graduates and young professional musicians from the region. Alongside his concert activity, he works closely with young musicians through individual mentorship and masterclasses.
His recordings include F-Sharp Tonalities and War and Peace, with further projects devoted to Bach, Scriabin, Janáček and Franck. From 2026, he begins Universos del Piano, a long-term project in Mexico whose first cycles include Liszt’s 12 Transcendental Etudes and Beethoven’s complete 32 piano sonatas.
UNIVERSOS DEL PIANO
A long-term exploration of the great cycles of the piano literature
Conceived in Mérida, Mexico, Universos del Piano is Rafael Gutiérrez-Vélez’s long-term artistic project devoted to experiencing major bodies of piano literature in their entirety. Rather than presenting isolated recitals, each “universe” unfolds over several seasons through complete cycles, concerts, conversations and related artistic activities.
LISZT · 12 TRANSCENDENTAL ETUDES · 2026
BEETHOVEN · 32 PIANO SONATAS · 2027–2030
the workshop
Some artistic ideas are too large to be developed alone. Throughout my career, many of the most meaningful experiences have emerged through collaboration—with musicians, universities, festivals and cultural institutions. If you believe that the strongest artistic work grows through dialogue, curiosity and a shared commitment to excellence, I invite you to discover The Workshop.
mentorship
Every musician stands at a different point in their artistic journey. Some prepare for auditions or competitions, others seek new perspectives after years of performing. What unites them is the desire to understand music more deeply and to continue growing with intention, curiosity and clarity.
Read my introductory guide to piano conservatory auditions in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Albums
F-SHARP ( 2024)
F-Sharp Major and F-Sharp Minor occupy a unique geographical and symbolic position emerging as a point of chromatic richness. These tonalities are not mere abstractions but reflections of life's dualities—pain and joy, despair and redemption. In this album, these tonalities guide listeners through a journey of human emotion and spiritual exploration.
BACH:Toccata and Fugue in F-Sharp Minor BWV 910
BEETHOVEN :Piano Sonata No 24 in F-Sharp Major Op. 78
SCHUMANN.Piano Sonata No1 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 11
SCRIABIN: Piano Sonata No 4 in F-Sharp Major Op. 30
WAR AND PEACE (2025)
Composed in 1940 amidst the turmoil of World War II, Prokofiev's first "war sonata" is a gripping masterpiece that challenges both performer and listener alike with a relentless depiction of conflict and destruction throughout this 30-minute tour de force.
In stark contrast, Schumann’s "Humoreske," often regarded by the composer as his most melancholic work, offers a deeply personal exploration of emotion, unbound by traditional forms bringing to life the contrasting personas of Florestan and Eusebius from the composer.
Serguei Prokofiev : Sonata n6 in A major op. 82
Robert Schumann : Humoresque op 20 in B flat major
NATUR MORT ( RELEASE IN 2026)
Human life represents nature’s most intricate cycle, where the physiological and psychological realms intersect in a way unmatched by any other entity. The concept of Nature Morte, or still life in art, traditionally depicts inanimate objects—often ordinary subjects like food, flowers, or tableware. However, during the Middle Ages and particularly in the Dutch and Flemish Golden Age, these paintings took on profound allegorical meanings, often reflecting the spiritual realm.
This musical journey begins by delving into the fragility and mortality of our physical existence, explored through the works of Janáček and Liszt, portraying the inevitable decay and dissolution of the body. Scriabin’s "White Mass" Sonata serves as the pivotal transition, guiding the listener from the tangible and mortal to the ethereal and sacred. The later part of the journey, through the music of Bach and Franck, shifts the focus toward the transcendent, inviting contemplation of the spiritual beyond the physical.
Leos Janacek : Piano Sonata 1.X.1905
Franz Liszt :Funerailles
Aleksandr Scriabin : Piano Sonata n7 “White Mass” op 64
J.S Bach :Fantasie and Fuge in a minor BWV 904
Cesar Franck :Prelude Choral et fugue
Upcoming Concerts
News
Guest To Yucatan's Symphony oRCHESTRA
On Friday, November 14th and Sunday, November 16th I'm invited to play Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto with Yucatan's symphonic orchestra in the symbollic Amrando Manzanero's Theatre.
Join us for this exquisite, romantic, unforgettable experience.