HOUSTON GRAND PRESENTS Suite Española: EXPLORANDO IBERIA

7:30 p.m. CT | March 26, 2021 Available on demand through April 25, 2021 Suite Española: EXPLORANDO IBERIA

Program

“Canción Española (De España vengo)” from El niño judío Pablo Luna (1879-1942)

“Sevilla” from Suite Española Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909)

“La petenera” from La marchenera Federico Moreno Torroba (1891-1982)

“En Aranjuez, con tu amor” from Concierto de Aranjuez Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999)

“No corté más que una rosa” from La del manojo de rosas Pablo Sorozábal (1897-1988)

“No puede ser” from La tabernera del puerto Pablo Sorozábal

“Carceleras” from Las hijas del Zebedeo Ruperto Chapí (1851-1909)

“En mi tierra extremeña” from Luisa Fernanda Federico Moreno Torroba

“Asturias” from Suite Española Isaac Albéniz

“Tres estrofas de amor” Pablo Casals (1876-1973)

“El cant dels ocells” Pablo Casals

“” from Suite Española Isaac Albéniz

“Dúo pasodoble” from El gato montés Manuel Penella (1880-1939)

“Guajiras” from La revoltosa Ruperto Chapí

–EPILOGO–

“Goizeko eguzki argiak” from Mirentxu Jésus Guridi (1886-1961)

Featuring Creative Team

Ana María Martínez Ana María Martínez Project Creator Ricardo García Chía Patiño Director Blake Denson Baritone S. Katy Tucker Projection Designer Manuel Gutierrez Cabello Solo Dancer Irma La Paloma Choreographer Ana María Barceló Solo Dancer Kevin J. Miller Principal Coach Kevin J. Miller Piano Jeremy Johnson Projected Titles Jeremy García Guitar Richard Brown Percussion Suite Española: EXPLORANDO IBERIA

Credits

Ben Doyle Video Director Daniel James Producer Ciara Ayala Assistant Producer Michael James Clark Lighting Designer Annie Wheeler Stage Manager Kristen Burke Production Manager Joshua McIntosh Technical Director Jeremy Johnson English Subtitles Dotti Staker Hair & Makeup Judy Malone-Stein Wardrobe

The entire staff of HGO contributed to the success of this production. For a full listing of the company’s staff, please visit HGO.org/about-us/people.

Performing artists, stage directors, and choreographers are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, the union for opera professionals in the United States.

Orchestral musicians are represented by the Houston Professional Musicians Association, Local #65-699, American Federation of Musicians.

Stage crew personnel provided by IATSE, Local #51.

Wardrobe personnel provided by Theatrical Wardrobe Union, Local #896.

Grand Underwriters Underwriter

Sponsors Glen Rosenbaum Gloria Portela and Dick Evans and Video Production

Streaming Partner

Mr. and Mrs. Alfredo Vilas Produced in association with Austin Opera Suite Española: EXPLORANDO IBERIA

Who's Who

ANA MARÍA MARTÍNEZ she served as music director for Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (2013). (PUERTO RICO) She also has conducted Cruzar la Cara de la Luna, as well as the SOPRANO AND CREATOR, SUITE world premiere of its choral version, at Teatro Nacional Sucre. Her ESPAÑOLA: EXPLORANDO IBERIA recent work as a composer includes incidental music for theater and the soundtrack for Guadual: Circo de Fibras Naturales, the Grammy Award–winning soprano Ana María first contemporary circus in Ecuador, which has traveled to Spain, Martínez is considered one of the foremost Argentina, and Brazil. Patiño holds a Bachelor of Music degree from of her time, with an international career that spans the the University of Louisville, Master and Doctor of Music degrees from world’s most important opera houses and concert halls. HGO’s Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, and an MFA in Stage artistic advisor since 2019, Martínez has a storied history with Direction from the University of Cincinnati College - Conservatory of the company, performing roles including Cio-Cio San in Madama Music (CCM). Butterfly (2010), the title role in Carmen (2014), Marguerite in Faust (2016), and Florencia in Florencia en el Amazonas (2019). S. KATY TUCKER During the 2020–21 season, Martínez performed the role of Mimì (UNITED STATES) in La bohème at San Diego Opera, the world’s first-ever drive-in PROJECTION DESIGNER opera production, and portrayed Nedda in Pagliacci at Palm Beach Opera. She also gave a series of virtual performances, including a S. Katy Tucker last worked at HGO designing “Living Room Recital” for Los Angeles Opera and a Spanish-themed the projections for The Flying Dutchman (2018) program entitled “Pasión Latina,” alongside pianist Craig Terry, for and Florencia en el Amazonas (2019), and for Lyric Opera of Chicago. Other engagements this season include her HGO Digital’s The Impresario this fall. Tucker began her career as a first-ever performances in the title role of Tosca at Opera Philadelphia painter and video installation artist, exhibiting her work at a variety of and then again at Cincinnati Opera, and Cio-Cio San in Madama galleries including the Corcoran Museum, Dupont Underground, The Butterfly at Opernhaus Zürich. Martínez’s career highlights include Dillon Gallery, and Artist’s Space in . She has collabo- Cio-Cio San and Musetta in La bohème at the ; rated with renowned musicians such as Paul McCartney, Paola Prestini, the title role in Rusalka at the Glyndebourne Festival and Teatro Helga Davis, Amanda Gookin, and Jeffrey Ziegler. Her work in live Colón in Buenos Aires; the title role in Luisa Miller and the Countess performance has been seen around the world, at Broadway and in Le nozze di Figaro at the Bayerische Staatsoper; Violetta in La Off-Broadway theaters, the Metropolitan Opera, the Sydney Opera traviata, Donna Elvira, and Cio-Cio San at the Royal Opera House House, Dutch National Opera, Carnegie Hall, the New York City Covent Garden; Donna Elvira at ; Nedda in I Ballet, the Kennedy Center, BAM, and The Metropolitan Museum Pagliacci, Tatiana in Eugene Onegin, Marguerite in Faust, Fiordiligi in of Art, among others. Recent productions include Samson and Così fan tutte, and Rusalka at Lyric Opera of Chicago; Elisabetta in Delilah and Don Giovanni at the Kennedy Center, Hansel and Gretel at Don Carlo, Amelia in Simon Boccanegra, Mimì, Violetta, Nedda, and the Canadian Opera Company, and Parsifal at Indiana University’s the title role in Carmen at Los Angeles Opera; and her major roles Jacobs School of Music. Upcoming engagements include the world with HGO. Orchestral highlights include performances with the Berlin premiere of Castor and Patience at Cincinnati Opera, a new production Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs with Tomer Zvulun at Atlanta Opera, Filharmonica della Scala, Puerto Rico Symphony, Seoul Philharmonic, and Eurydice at the Metropolitan Opera with Mary Zimmerman. Tchaikovsky Symphony in Moscow, the Sinfônica Brasileira, and the BBC Symphony. IRMA LA PALOMA (CUBA) CHÍA PATIÑO CHOREOGRAPHER (ECUADOR) DIRECTOR Irma La Paloma is a artist, singer, and choreographer. She began her flamenco Chía Patiño returns to the United States after training in Cuba at the Escuela de Baile ten years of heading the National Theatre Monterroso y Antas de Ulla under the direction of Spain’s María in her native country, Ecuador. After exten- Asela Bermúdez. She performed in Havana’s Centro Gallego and sive experience programming and administering a large number of Teatro García Lorca before going on to study and develop her art performances and international festivals, she is returning to directing in Spain and the U.S. As an ambassador for Spanish and flamenco and composing. Patiño has directed original productions of La arts, La Paloma co-directed the Houston Spanish and Flamenco Flauta Mágica de los Andes, Les Misérables, Faust, West Side Story, Festival from 2011 to 2016, in collaboration with the Consulate Sweeney Todd, Carmen, and Dido and Aeneas, as well as the world General of Spain in Houston and San Jacinto College, with funding premiere of Unicamente la Verdad and Manuela y Bolivar. For HGO, from Humanities Texas and the National Endowment for the Arts. La Suite Española: EXPLORANDO IBERIA

Paloma is president of the Society for Spanish and Flamenco Arts MANUEL GUTIERREZ CABELLO Houston and the co-founder and artistic director of Solero Flamenco, (FRANCE) where she is also a vocalist. Houston’s premier flamenco performing SOLO DANCER company, Solero Flamenco presents song, guitar, and dance in tradi- tional, contemporary, and original works, often sharing the stage with Manuel Gutierrez Cabello’s work has been local and international artists. Solero Flamenco has performed and called “fiery” (London’s Telegraph) and collaborated with the Rice University Boniuk Institute, SPA Houston, “incredibly explosive” (’s Figaro). He Brownsville Society for the Performing Arts, the Helena Symphony, began his training in Córdoba, Spain. By the age of 8, he won his and many other organizations. first flamenco dance award. By age 20, he began producing works and dancing across Europe with legendary flamenco artists including RICARDO GARCÍA Duquende, Chicuelo, Juan Carmona, and Chispa Negra. He also (UNITED STATES) began to collaborate with top French choreographers Redha, Marjorie Michelle Beale and Dick Anderson/Dr. Ascione, and Gerome Zerbie. In 2008, Gutierrez was invited to Ellen Gritz and Mickey Rosenau Fellow choreograph the production Flamenco Flamen’ka, which sold out the TENOR Lyric Theatre in London and ran for five years in Great Britain and France. Gutierrez has choreographed many works for stage and TV, A first-year HGO Studio artist, Ricardo García including El Emigrante, a moving tribute to Spanish immigrants in performed in HGO Digital productions Vinkensport (as Hans Sach’s the post-war period. Since 2011, he has served as Artistic Director Trainer) and The Making of The Snowy Day: An Opera for All. He for the Global Gift Foundation’s charitable initiative, The Global Gift recently completed his Master of Music in Voice at the San Francisco Gala. Working alongside actress, producer, and philanthropist Eva Conservatory of Music (SFCM) and holds a Bachelor of Music in Longoria, he has produced charitable events in Los Angeles, London, Voice from the University of the Pacific. He was a studio artist at Paris, Cannes, Mexico, and Dubai. Gutierrez currently resides in Los Wolf Trap Opera, where he covered Roméo in Roméo et Juliette and Angeles, where he has created the flamenco productions KOMPAZ Giocondo in La pietra del paragone, and a voice fellow with Music and Five and has performed with the LA Opera. His powerful onstage Academy of the West, where he sang Jenik in The Bartered Bride. presence and dynamic choreography have made him a sought-after Recent roles include Lamplighter/Drunkard in The Little Prince and artist internationally. Fenton in Falstaff. As a first-year apprentice at Santa Fe Opera, he covered Parpignol in La bohème and sang Fenton and Normanno in ANA MARÍA BARCELÓ the Apprentice Scenes Night. Recently, García won the San Francisco (PUERTO RICO) District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and SOLO DANCER advanced to the region finals in Los Angeles. This summer, he will sing the role of Grimoaldo in Rodelinda at the Aspen Music Festival. Flamenco dancer Ana María Barceló started studying ballet at 3 years old. At 11, she BLAKE DENSON was selected to join the San Juan Municipal (UNITED STATES) Ballet Company. A few years later, Barceló started studying classic Elizabeth Grimm and Jack Roth/Carolyn Spanish dancing and became interested in other Spanish dancing Levy/Gloria Portela and Dick Evans Fellow styles. She moved to Valencia, Spain to pursue a Master of Fine Arts BARITONE in Cinematographic Screenplay, and was introduced to the world of flamenco. In 2005, she joined renowned dancer Antonio Santaella’s First-year HGO Studio artist Blake Denson flamenco company in Puerto Rico, Mosaico Almudéjar, performing in also appears in HGO Digital productions Giving Voice and Hansel theaters and tablaos throughout the island. In 2008, Barceló trav- and Gretel (as Peter) this season. He was a Grand Finals winner in eled to Granada, Spain to study flamenco full-time before returning the 2020 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and is a to Puerto Rico to establish her own dance studio and produce 2018 alumnus of HGO’s Young Artists Vocal Academy (YAVA). He performances with the island’s best singers and guitarists. Today obtained his Bachelor of Music in voice degree from the University she travels to Spain frequently, continuing her training at recog- of Kentucky School of Music and recently completed his Master nized flamenco schools including Amor de Dios, Manuel Betanzos, of Music degree at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. and Flamenco Ados. Barceló has almost 15 years of experience Denson was a studio artist at Wolf Trap Opera in 2018 and was set performing and teaching flamenco. She recently moved to Houston, to return to Wolf Trap Opera for a second season in the summer of where she performs and offers classes. 2020 to perform the Commander and cover the title role in Eugene Onegin, as well as cover the role of Marcello in La bohème, but those productions were canceled due to COVID-19. Suite Española: EXPLORANDO IBERIA

KEVIN J. MILLER RICHARD BROWN (UNITED STATES) (UNITED STATES) PIANO PERCUSSION

American pianist and collaborator Kevin J. Richard Brown enjoys a multi-faceted career Miller is acclaimed for his dynamically artful as a professional musician, educator, and busi- performances. An assistant conductor with nessman. Professor Emeritus of Percussion HGO, he also appeared in the HGO Digital production Giving Voice at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, he currently serves this season. Recent engagements include a recital with international as Principal Percussionist and Orchestra Personnel Manager of both tenor Joseph Calleja and Nadine Sierra at the Supreme Court of the the HGO Orchestra and Jackson Hole’s Grand Teton Music Festival United States, as well as an appearance with Calleja on NPR’s Tiny Orchestra, where he is also Artistic Advisor. He leads the Richard Desk Concert series. Miller prepared soprano Jessye Norman for Brown Orchestra, one of Houston’s most popular dance bands, which performances of Laura Karpman’s production of Ask Your Mama, plays large social galas, special events, and weddings. Brown has which was performed at Carnegie Hall. He has collaborated with the played with the Chamber Symphony of Philadelphia and Philadelphia internationally acclaimed countertenor, David Daniels, in recital at Lyric Opera, and served as percussionist with the U.S. Army Band in the Glimmerglass Festival. He can be heard on the recording Been Washington, D.C., and the Houston Symphony. He spent time as a in da Storm So Long, which features baritone Kenneth Overton. freelance percussionist in New York, playing Broadway shows such Miller has a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano from the Mannes as West Side Story, Show Boat, and Shirley MacLaine, working in College of Music, and a Master of Music degree and Artist Diploma recording studios, and subbing with The Metropolitan Opera and The in Collaborative Piano from the University of Michigan School of New York Philharmonic. He performed with Ann Margret for 15 years, Music. He has participated in some of the country’s most prestigious both in Las Vegas and on tour. His company, Richard Brown Music, festivals and young artist apprenticeships, including The Tanglewood hires musicians for concerts and prominent churches in Houston. He Institute of Music, Aspen Music Festival, The Cleveland Art Song is proud to say that in any given year, he offers over 2,000 employ- Festival, San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program, Washington ment opportunities to the city’s professional musicians. National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, and the Glimmerglass Festival.

JEREMY GARCÍA (UNITED STATES) GUITAR

As a soloist and composer, Jeremy García has performed all over the United States. He has collaborated with the Fort Bend Symphony, Brazosport Symphony, and Helena Symphony in Montana, and performed in numerous festivals as a soloist and collaborated with many top flamenco artists. He has recorded two CDs, García y Reyna’s Baile del Sol and Café Khytaro’s Distancia. In 2009 García co-founded Solero Flamenco, Houston’s premier flamenco perfor- mance company, along with Irma La Paloma; the two subsequently co-founded and directed the Houston Spanish and Flamenco Festival (2011-2016). García served as Director of Guitar Studies at San Jacinto College for 20 years. Today he is the Associate Artistic Director of the Houston Classical Guitar Festival and Competition. He has a Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Guitar Performance from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi and a Master of Music degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.