Influenced by J.S. Bach, he began his studies of harpsichord when he was twelve years old, with Pedro Persone. At fifteen he moved to the Netherlands, following an invitation of Jacques Ogg, in order to pursue his musical studies with him, where he stayed for ten years, studying with various teachers such as Anneke Uittenbosch and Menno van Delft.
Since very young age, his strongest influence has been Gustav Leonhardt, for whom he was exceptionally accepted as his last official student.
It was also very important for him , to have worked privetly with Pierre Hantaï, Marco Mencoboni and Miklós Spányi , who later invited him to record together the pieces for 2 harpsichords by C.Ph.E.Bach.
In 1998 he came at the invitation of several music schools and Conservatories, such as the Instituto Gregoriano de Lisboa and the National Conservatory of music, to work in Portugal, as a professor of harpsichord, clavichord and chamber music.
Cristiano Holtz is often invited to give master classes at several international music institutes such as Harvard University Boston, Liszt Ferenc academy Budapest and ESMAE Porto.
He mostly performs as a soloist, both on harpsichord, clavichord and occasionally on historical organs in various countries in Europe, Asia, South America and in the United States, playing in several prestigious international festivals. He also enjoys joining his friends such as Miklós Spányi, Concerto Armonico Budapest, Aapo Häkkinen, Helsinki Baroque Orquestra, Antonio Carrilho to play chamber music.
His recitals and recordings have been highly acclaimed in the internacional Press, and have obtained several international awards such as: “Eldorado Competition” (Brazil), “Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik” (Germany ), 5 Stars “Golgberg Magazine ”
(Britain, Spain), “Record Geijutsu Award” (Japan), “Fanfarre Magazine” (USA), 5 Stars “Publico Newspaper” (Portugal) and twice “Excellent Disque” in the “Classica Magazine” (France).
Cristiano Holtz has Bach as the center of his musical work.