Cristina Braga
is considered one of the most important harpists in Southern America – showing the world a harp with Brazilian soul, spreading out the possibilities of her instrument and introducing listeners worldwide to the sound of the Latin American jazz harp. At home in both popular and classical music, Cristina has won many important prizes, is principal harpist with the Rio de Janeiro Symphony and has worked as a soloist with many symphony orchestras. She is also professor of harp at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and a member of the directors’ board of the World Harp Congress. She has worked and recorded with such singers as Marisa Monte, Lenine and Nando Reis and regularly tours the USA, Europe and Japan. In 2008 she was invited by Andy Summers (guitarist of The Police) and Roberto Menescal to record on their DVD United Kingdom of Ipanema. Tárik de Souza says: “She gave a new swing to this heavy instrument.”