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After Hours: Latina Composers

Posted on: April 28, 2021

Premiering Friday, May 14th at 5:00 p.m. PT

Our second edition of the much-beloved After Hours program is back, and this time, we're celebrating 11 astounding Latina composers. Russell Thomas, our Artist in Residence-turned-host, curated this spectacular special to transport you right to Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina, Cuba and Peru (without ever leaving your home).

Presented in collaboration with Opera San José and filmed in their new digital media studio, this recital will feature songs by Modesta Bor (1926-1998), María Luisa Escobar (1903-1985), Chabuca Granda (1920-1983), María Grever (1885-1951), Ernestina Lecuona (1882-1951), Ángela Peralta (1845-1883) and Consuelo Velázquez (1916-2005). You'll also hear works by four contemporary composers: Gabriela Lena Frank (The Five Moons of Lorca, anyone?), Tania León, Mariela Rodríguez and Irma Urteaga.

Watch, listen, and be amazed by soprano Vanessa Becerra and tenor Carlos Enrique Santelli (who are both alumni of LA Opera's Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program), baritones Luis Alejandro Orozco and Efraín Solís, pianists César Cancino and Bryndon Hassman, and guitarist Jose Chuy Hernandez as they take our virtual stage for this can't-miss performance.

Prefer to watch with Spanish or Vietnamese subtitles? Click here

Click "Read More" below for the full song list

The Program

"Io t’amero"
Ángela Peralta
(1845–1883)
Carlos Enrique Santelli, tenor; César Cancino, piano 

"Canción de cuna para dormir a Albertico"
"Guitarra"
Modesta Bor (1926–1998) 
Carlos Enrique Santelli, tenor; César Cancino, piano  

Canticos para soñar y otras obras de camara 
No. 1 "Canción de cuna para mi corazón solitario
No. 2 "Canto de nodriza"
No. 3 "Vocalise"
No. 4 "Capullito"
Irma Urteaga (b. 1929)
Vanessa Becerra, soprano; César Cancino, piano 

Selections from Songs of Cifar and the Sweet Sea  
"Me diste ¡oh Dios! una hija"
"Eufemia" (5:40)  
"En la vela del angelito"
Gabriela Lena Frank (b. 1972)
Efraín Solís, baritone; Bryndon Hassman, piano 

Dos canciones mediterráneas 
"La nada que se aprieta sobre alma"
"El tiempo es fiero"
Mariela Rodríguez  (b. 1986)  
Vanessa Becerra, soprano; César Cancino, piano 

"Mi amor es" 
Tania León (b. 1943) 
Luis Alejandro Orozco, baritone; César Cancino, piano 

"Solo a ti te quiero"
Ernestina Lecuona (1882–1951) 
Luis Alejandro Orozco, baritone; César Cancino, piano 

Medley:
"Enamorado"
"Amar y vivir"
"Que seas feliz"
Consuelo Velázquez (1916–2005) 
Luis Alejandro Orozco, baritone; César Cancino, piano  

"Despedida"
María Grever (1885–1951)  
Carlos Enrique Santelli, tenor; Jose Chuy Hernandez, guitar  

"Júrame"
María Grever
Efraín Solís, baritone; Chuy Hernandez, guitar 

"Fina estampa"
"La flor de la canela"
Chabuca Granda  (1920–1983)  
Vanessa Becerra, soprano; Chuy Hernandez, guitar 

"Naranjas de Valencia"
María Luisa Escobar (1903–1985)  
Carlos Enrique Santelli, tenor; César Cancino, piano 

Watch TV strip

If you prefer to watch this digital short on your Smart TV just follow one of these suggestions:

  • Connect your device to your TV with an HDMI cable
  • Watch from your Smart TV web browser: just enter LAOpera.org/Watch
  • On Roku and AppleTV download the Youtube app and search for “LA Opera After Hours Latina Composers”
  • Mirror your smart device's screen to your TV by following these instructions: Apple or Android

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