Family and friends gathered outside while two men dressed in black quietly practiced a piece on classical guitars.
The Jessen Auditorium hosted the second rendition of “Latin American and Iberian Art Song and Arias” in Homer Rainey Hall on Monday. Alexis Velazquez, graduate student in the Department of Ethnomusicology, organized the performance, featuring a mix of students, educators and professional musicians. The show consisted of 16 songs, entirely in Spanish, from across Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula, serving as a celebration of cultures.
The night began with a stunning show from Afsoneh Esfandiari, a musical educator pursuing a DMA in vocal pedagogy, who took the stage in a flowing white dress and long, draped sleeves. Performing “Me llaman la primorosa” by Manuel Nieto and Gerónimo Giménez, Esfandiari dazzled the audience with impressive vocal runs and a fun call-and-response between her and pianist Yueqi Zhang. The song acted as an upbeat start to a wonderful night of music.
Zhang, collaborative pianist and opera coach, played with many of the vocalists, remaining on stage to accompany vocal performance junior Isabella Thornton as she performed two songs by Fernando Obradors. “Con Amores La Mi Madre”, a slow, somber song, contrasted with the energy of the previous piece. On the other hand, her next song, “Chiquitita La Novia,” brimmed with life and fun. Thornton added character into her performance through stage presence with shoulder shimmies, playful smiles and a sudden clap as though catching a fly. Thornton’s naturality and ease on stage demonstrated her promise as a performer.
Vaishnavee Sundararman, choral music studies senior, put on one of the most spectacular performances of the night with her rendition of Daniel Catán’s “Escucháme” from the opera Florencia en el Amazonas. Although one of the longest pieces, Sundararaman sang completely from memory while exhibiting her vocal stamina. Her voice filled the auditorium as she deftly moved from serious to lighter verses, highlighting her range. Her dress’s dazzling accents only added to the splendor of her performance.
A highlight of the night was the collaboration between Kaylyn Caudillo, music and radio-television-film senior, and UT’s Mariachi to perform Alva Carillo’s “Luz de luna.” The sound of the trumpets bounced off the auditorium walls while the strings played their tunes. The band would play softer as Claudillo sang alongside fellow musicians. The union of the sounds gave the piece a sense of fullness, the entire room being wrapped into their song.
To end the night, Frida Hernandez Villarreal, UT alumnus, took the stage in a solid red dress and a matching red flower in her hair. Omar & Fernando Hernandez accompanied her on guitar during her moving performance of Chavela Vargas’ “La Llorona.” The sweet, romantic sound of the guitar complemented Frida’s passionate singing. Performing the somber song beautifully, she created a mood of artistic gravity to end the night.
The show demonstrated the skill and artistry of Longhorns, bringing the beauty of Latin American and Iberian music to the Forty Acres.
