After the success of his recordings for the Sony Classical label, Alberto Martos emerges strongly in the current musical scene. Trained in Spain and Germany (HfM Hanns Eisler in Berlin) with professors José A. Salazar, Andreas Greger, and Elena Cheah, his rich concert activity has led him to perform in venues such as the National Auditorium, Palau de la Música Catalana, Carnegie Hall, Sala Pleyel, Teatro Colón, and the Philharmonie in Berlin. Personally chosen by Daniel Barenboim to occupy the first chair of the West Eastern Divan Orchestra, he was described by the maestro as “one of the greatest promises of the cello.”
He has been awarded the first prize in the International Music Competition of Cartagena, the Soloists Competition of the Royal Superior Conservatory of Music of Granada, and the Chamber Music Competition Ciudad de Lucena, the latter alongside Garnati Ensemble. In 2017, he received the Andaluces del Futuro – Bankia/Grupo Joly Award in the culture category for his brilliant career as a soloist. That same year, his second album for Sony Classical was released, featuring the famous Concerto in D major by Joseph Haydn and the Adagio from the Concerto in C major, performed with the City of Granada Orchestra under the direction of maestro Antoni Ros Marbà.
In 2018, Alberto Martos became the youngest cello professor in Spain, a position he currently holds at the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música Victoria Eugenia in Granada. In 2022, he participated in a tribute to terrorism victims broadcast live on Spanish Television in the presence of H. M. King Felipe VI and the highest authorities of the country.
As the founder of this ensemble alongside his brother Pablo Martos, their work “Playing Goldberg,” recorded on Sony Classical with Yuval Gotlibovich, received the highest praises from specialized press. In 2013, they received the Andalucía Joven Award for their charitable work through music. Some of their efforts were documented in the film “The Healing Notes,” produced by Mercedes Milá and directed by Amparo Mendo. In 2016, they were invited to Puerto Rico, where they inaugurated the Pilar Defillò museum (mother of Pau Casals) and were named “Distinguished Guests” of the City of Mayagüez. In 2022, they recorded “Laudes” with Ambrosio Valero, featuring several premieres by Basque composers and Joaquín Turina’s Trio No. 2.
Despite covering a wide range of repertoires, Alberto Martos is a staunch advocate for contemporary music. Composers such as José Luis Greco, Ramón Paús, Pedro Guajardo, Yuval Gotlibovich, and Juan Cruz have dedicated works to him. Some of these premieres include Paús’s “Audax” and “Ciudadano Sombra,” Gotlibovich’s “Cuento,” and the world premiere of Conrado del Campo’s trios (a heritage recovery effort), as well as José Luís Greco’s “Woman at a Window” and “One Fell Swoop.” Alberto recently completed his doctoral thesis on the cello works of the latter composer.
In 2024, his new CD, featuring the complete works for cello and piano by Robert Schumann alongside pianist Myriam Sotelo, will be released on the IBS label.