The Venezuelan pianist and composer Gabriela Montero closed the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, performing Simón Díaz’s Mi querencia followed by the Venezuelan national anthem, Gloria al Bravo Pueblo. Her participation formed part of the official tribute to María Corina Machado, recognised this year by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Montero, long known for her outspoken criticism of Venezuela’s political situation, has repeatedly condemned what she describes as human-rights violations and the authoritarian nature of Nicolás Maduro’s government. Her presence at the ceremony added a symbolic dimension to a gala marked by references to Venezuela’s current political environment.
Machado absent from the ceremony
Although honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy of democratic principles in Venezuela, María Corina Machado did not appear in person at the ceremony. Her daughter, Ana Corina Sosa Machado, accepted the award on her behalf and read a message in which Machado thanked the committee and expressed hope for political change in her country. The Nobel Institute stated that Machado was safe and on her way to Norway. Whether she would arrive in Oslo later in the day remained uncertain at the time of the event.
Gabriela Montero’s performance
Montero performed immediately after the acceptance message, offering an improvisation based on Mi querencia before concluding with the Venezuelan national anthem. Her performance followed an earlier appearance by the Venezuelan artist Danny Ocean, who sang Alma llanera by Pedro Elías Gutiérrez and Venezuela by Pablo Herrero Ibarz and José Luis Armenteros. Montero has been one of the most vocal Venezuelan musicians in denouncing the country’s political deterioration. She has described Maduro’s government as a dictatorship and has spoken publicly about what she considers systematic violations of human rights. In this context, her musical tribute resonated strongly with audiences in Oslo and abroad.
Background
María Corina Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for what the committee described as her “civil courage” and her role in advocating democratic reforms in Venezuela. The ceremony took place during a period of heightened tension between Washington and Caracas, following recent US military actions against small boats in the Caribbean that the Pentagon described as drug-trafficking vessels. The US released video footage of the strikes, and President Donald Trump publicly suggested that additional actions, including possible ground operations, could follow. These statements have prompted international concern, contributing to an atmosphere of uncertainty around regional developments.
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