Tania Libertad: A singer for peace
By Jesús Ibarra January 11, 2008 San Miguel de Allende
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Concert Tania Libertad Benefit for Municipal Women’s Institute Sat, Jan 19, 8pm El Colorado (formerly El Álamo) Km. 2.5, Salida a Celaya 500/300/200 pesos |
“The first time I heard Tania Libertad sing, it was a revelation from on high—from a place where only a naked voice might go, alone in the world, unaccompanied by any instrument. Tania was singing the Rafael Alberti composition “La Paloma” a capella, and each note touched a string in my soul until I was completely dazed.”
—José Saramago, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature
Tania Libertad, a woman who brings a message of peace and liberty to the world with her extraordinary singing voice, offers a concert in San Miguel de Allende to benefit Instituto de la Mujer (Women’s Institue) and its program “A Mammogram for Every Woman.” Born in Peru, she has lived in Mexico for more than 20 years. With 38 albums totaling sales of more than 4 million copies, she has been lauded around the world and named a UNESCO Singer for Peace.
Tania Libertad granted this exclusive interview to Atencion reporter Jesús Ibarra:
Jesús Ibarra: What does it mean to you to be UNESCO Singer for Peace?
Tania Libertad: It is a great responsibility and a great honor. In every concert I try to promote a culture of tolerance, dialogue and peace through my songs or through what I say, making the people understand that violence does not result in anything good.
JI: Why did you choose Mexico as your country of residence?
TL: I have been living in Mexico for 28 years. I like this country because it is very similar to mine. I had never lived outside my country before, and when I came to Mexico it seemed to be a twin of Peru in many aspects: its history, its ancestry, its culture. I liked everything about it, and Mexicans are a very musically receptive people. I wanted to venture forth, to take my own path. I had been locked up for so long, governed by my family, by my friends, by the public who followed my musical career. Everybody told me what to do; there was no freedom to do many things.
JI: What kind of songs did you begin singing?
TL: I began singing boleros when I was five years old. Then I sang songs from the Peruvian coast, known as “black music,” and they form the bulk of my repertory. When I was a teenager, I sang ballads and rock. Then, as a university student, I sang Latin American folk songs. When I arrived here, I blended together the various types of music I had been singing from different Latin American countries.
JI: What is your favorite kind of song?
TL: My favorite music is good music. I don’t make distinctions between songs from one country or another.
JI: Although your voice is well-equipped for singing opera, you waited a long time to record an album of arias. Why?
TL: It was not my idea, but Carlos Slim’s. It took me six months to decide to do it. I have a great respect for opera and opera singers; they have to practice for years to prepare themselves to sing it well. Before recording my opera CD, I took special lessons, and it took me a long time. I would not have done it by myself; I would not have dared to do it, since I don’t like to undertake things I’m not prepared for. On the CD cover there is a letter in which I explain all this and say that it will be the only opera CD I’ll record.
JI: What do you take into consideration when selecting your songs?
TL: I consider the subject of the song; it must be something that motivates and touches me. They must be songs that agree with my way of thinking and feeling, and with my convictions.
JI: What does it mean to you to have sung on almost every continent?
TL: I think that one acquires prestige by having patience and taking care with one’s career. With prestige come great promoters and great opportunities. For example, I never expected to sing at the Sydney opera house; I would never have imagined going to Australia to sing. It was an honor, and it strengthens me and allows me to keep believing in what I have always believed in.
JI: You have shared the stage and sung duets with many personalities. Is there someone you especially remember?
TL: It has always been an honor for me to sing with my friends, and I have sung with friends more than with artists I don’t know well. Usually, when two famous singers perform a duet it is because of an agreement with a record company, but not in my case. When I sing a duet it is because I have decided to do it and I invite a singer friend to sing with me, or I am invited by someone. All my experiences singing duets have been great.
JI: The concert you will give in San Miguel is to benefit the Women’s Institute and its program “A Mammogram for Every Woman.” What does it mean to you to help in this cause?
TL: Anything that benefits human beings is something in which I can get deeply involved.
JI: Do you have a message for women regarding breast cancer?
TL: It is important that both younger and older women have mammograms. Young girls must learn to give themselves breast exams and to know much more about this disease that has caused the death of so many women.
JI: What other humanitarian causes have you worked for?
TL: I have given concerts to benefit people with AIDS and with Down Syndrome. Helping others is really important to me.
JI: How many times have you sung in San Miguel?
TL: Only four or five times. But I have vacationed here several times. I think San Miguel is a magical city with an incredible personality. Its streets and architecture have been so well-preserved. It has a wonderful atmosphere, an incredible nightlife and marvelous restaurants. I have enjoyed it a lot and I would have liked to have sung here more times. One of the last times I sang in San Miguel was during the tribute to Don Pedro Vargas.
JI: What songs will you include in this concert?
TL: I am trying to form a repertory that reflects the spirit of the 38 records I have made during the course of my career. Some boleros, a little bit of ranchero, black music, trova, and every representative song in my repertory.
JI: What would you like to say to the people of San Miguel?
TL: I would ask them to support all of the Women’s Institute’s events. The concert will be on January 19 at El Colorado at 8pm. I would like it to be full—not for me, but for the cause. The same for Lindsay Wagner’s conferences. I hope there will be a lot of people. I would like to see all the people of San Miguel at the concert in a show of solidarity.
The first Inside/Out Music Festival
By Claude Lawrence
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Concerts Upper Manhattan Jazz Ensemble Mon, Jan 21, 8pm 100 pesos Four jazz groups Tues, Jan 22, 7pm 150 pesos Teatro Santa Ana Biblioteca Pública Reloj 50A |
Photo credit Alejandra Zapata
Look for something different this January! composer Claude Lawrence presents the first Inside/Out Music Festival, blending San Miguel and New York City jazz with an exhibit by local artists.
Monday’s concert features all NYC players: the Upper Manhattan Jazz Ensemble. Lawrence on alto sax joins Vishnu Wood on bass and Cody Moffett on drums, with Ken Basman as guest on guitar. Group members have played the Montreal, Newport and Montreux jazz festivals. An opening reception at 7:30pm features artwork by Nina Wisniewski and Claude Lawrence.
Tuesday event is a musical feast! After the continuing art exhibit opens at 6:30pm, four groups with San Miguel and NYC musicians take the stage. Urban Express is jazz/cultural fusion of funk, rap and blues. Tamo/Tyler Group is more traditional, with Oaxacan Tamo’s straight-ahead Latin vocals. Also on the bill are the Hopalong Group and the Beto Gonzalez Trio.
Lawrence asks for sponsors to help defray the cost of the production and musicians’ expenses. Tickets will be on sale at the box office or at the door.
Composer to attend world premiere of his string quartet
By Bob Kelly
Concert
Carlos Chavez String Quartet
Sat–Sun, Jan 12–13, 5pm
St. Paul’s Church
Cardo 6
200, 150 and 50 pesos
The Mexican composer Jesus Echevarria will attend the world premiere Saturday of his
string quartet, “Cuarteto de cuerdas No.1, El ritual,” commissioned by San Miguel el
Grande Pro Musica and funded by co-founder Stephen Kurtz.
The four-part piece, performed by the Carlos Chavez String Quartet of Mexico, will include an allegro, “Quebranto y llamada”; andane, “Invocavion y odisea interior”; scherzo, “Batalla y mitote,” and an adagio, presto, adagio, “Retorno y transformacion.”
Kurtz dedicated the work to his wife Mary. It will be repeated Sunday at a concert with an otherwise different program.
Echevarria and his wife, Ursula Iturraran, will attend a wine and canapé reception following the concert.
Tickets at 200, 150 and 50 pesos are available at La Tienda in the Biblioteca, Insurgentes 25; Casa de Papel, Mesones 57; La Conexión, Aldama 3; and St. Paul’s office weekdays 11am–2pm; and at the door one hour before concert time. For details see
www.promusicasma.com.
Piano Concert
Age Kristoffersen
Edvard Grieg “Lyric Pieces”
Sun, Jan 13, 20 & 27, 2pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
50 pesos, tickets available daily, 11am–7pm
Renowned Norwegian concert pianist Age Kristoffersen will offer concerts on 12 consecutive Sundays from January to March. Kristoffersen, who has had a lifelong affair with the piano, gives more than 100 performances around the world every year. He has received prizes and awards on three continents and met with unanimous praise from critics everywhere. Following a concert at Carnegie Hall, The New York Times wrote that he is “an extraordinarily accomplished pianist...no technical problems seem to bother him, phrasing and dynamics are carefully planned, and color is his special territory... a lovely, masterly piano recital.”