Vocal Recital: Spanish Language Songs
Lose yourself in the vibrant music of Spanish-language composers on both sides of the Atlantic. This delectable song recital—performed entirely in Spanish—includes love songs both passionate and playful. Indulge in bold popular tunes crafted for zarzuelas, Spain’s musical theater of the masses, as well as more intimate works. Composers from Spain, Cuba, Mexico, and South America populate this delightful program (even Italian opera master Gioachino Rossini makes an appearance!).
Program (subject to change)
ERNESTO LECUONA | “María la O” |
Ruby Dibble, mezzo-soprano | |
Reese Revak, piano | |
CARLOS GUASTAVINO | “Pampamapa” |
Ben Schaefer, baritone | |
Reese Revak, piano | |
YVETTE SOUVIRON | “Al banco solitario” |
Hannah Klein, mezzo-soprano | |
Reese Revak, piano | |
MANUEL M. PONCE | “Espera” |
Sophia Maekawa, mezzo-soprano | |
Reese Revak, piano | |
FERNANDO OBRADORS | “Al amor” |
Colin Aikins, tenor | |
Reese Revak, piano | |
ALFONSO ESPARZA OTEO | “Dime Que Sí” |
Ruby Dibble, mezzo-soprano | |
Reese Revak, piano | |
GUASTAVINO | “Ya me voy a retirar” |
Ben Schaefer, baritone | |
Reese Revak, piano | |
IGNACIO FERNÁNDEZ ESPERÓN | “Íntima” |
Colin Aikins, tenor | |
Reese Revak, piano | |
GIOACHINO ROSSINI | “Canzonetta spagnuola” |
Sophia Maekawa, mezzo-soprano | |
Reese Revak, piano | |
OBRADORS | “Del cabello más sutil” |
Ruby Dibble, mezzo-soprano | |
Reese Revak, piano | |
GISELA HERNÁNDEZ GONZALO | “Sólo por el rocío” |
Hannah Klein, mezzo-soprano | |
Reese Revak, piano | |
GUASTAVINO | “La rosa y el sauce” |
Colin Aikins, tenor | |
Reese Revak, piano | |
FEDERICO MORENO TORROBA | “Amor, vida de mi vida,” from Maravilla |
Ben Schaefer, baritone | |
Reese Revak, piano | |
JERÓNIMO GIMÉNEZ | “Zapateado,” from La tempranica |
Hannah Klein, mezzo-soprano | |
Reese Revak, piano | |
ERNESTO LECUONA | “Siempre en mi corazón” |
Sophia Maekawa, mezzo-soprano | |
Reese Revak, piano |
Meet Our Faculty
Vocal coach and collaborative pianist Reese Revak has worked with Opera Philadelphia, the Castleton Summer Music Festival, and the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus. Recent productions include Carmen, Otello, and The Wake World. They joined the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music in 2012.
Notes from the Faculty
I chose to program a recital of Spanish language works because I have always been enamored by the various cultures that use this language as a vehicle for communication and expression. By offering an avenue to perform works in Spanish, I wanted the students to have exposure to not just another language, but a wide variety of music and texts from all around the globe. To me, this repertoire needs to be performed simply because Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages today, and the wealth of music from the various countries where Spanish is spoken is worth presenting with integrity. This recital features works from Spain, Argentina, Cuba, and Mexico, but these selections merely scratch the surface of the world of vocal repertoire in Spanish.
I want to offer a special thanks to the following people for recording spoken tracks of Spanish texts for my recital: Javier Arrebola, Iris Blanco-Urgelles, and Jorge Espino (Opera ’19).