ALBERTO ESTÉBANEZ

Born: 1964

Nationality: Spanish

In due course, the short impression below will be replaced with a more extensive career overview

BIOGRAPHY

Alberto Estébanez Santesteban studied at the Pamplona Music Academy, but he already earned his money as a professional pianist from his seventeenth year onwards, accompanying the likes of Pablo Abraira, Paloma San Basilio, and Manolo Escobar. From the late 1980s onwards, he got involved in recording sessions, first as a keyboardist and later as a producer as well. He wrote arrangements for Julio Iglesias, La Década Prodigiosa, Serafín Zubiri, and, more recently, David Bisbal and Rafael Artesero. He composed many pop tracks with lyrics by Mikel Herzog. On Spanish television, he was the producer and musical director of the Operación Triunfo casting show.

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST

Alberto Estébanez composed the song ‘¿Qué voy a hacer sin ti?’, performed by Mikel Herzog, who also wrote the lyrics. It was the Spanish entry to the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest in Birmingham. Estébanez wrote the orchestral arrangement to this Mediterranean ballad and conducted the Eurovision orchestra in the live broadcast. Spain finished sixteenth.

Two years later, Estébanez had another Eurovision involvement, as he produced (and arranged) the studio version of Serafín Zubiri's Spanish entry 'Colgado de un sueño'. Given that the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm did not have a live orchestra, Estébanez was deprived of a second opportunity to make his appearance as a conductor in the event.

EUROVISION INVOLVEMENT YEAR BY YEAR

1998 Birmingham

Country – Spain

Song title – "¿Qué voy a hacer sin ti?"

Rendition – Mikel Herzog

Lyrics – Mikel Herzog

Composition – Alberto Estébanez

Studio arrangement – Alberto Estébanez

Live orchestration – Alberto Estébanez

Conductor – Alberto Estébanez

Score – 16th place (21 votes)

2000 Stockholm

Song title – "Colgado de un sueño"

Rendition – Serafín Zubiri 

Lyrics – José Maria “Chema” Purón

Composition – José Maria “Chema” Purón

Studio arrangement – Alberto Estébanez

Live orchestration – none 

Conductor – none

Score – 18th place (18 votes)