Lisette Oropesa, welcome to Brazil!

*O texto em Português está disponível aqui.

Soprano Lisette Oropesa will sing in South America for the first time. I had the opportunity to meet her in Baton Rouge, while I was at Louisiana State University for my DMA in Choral Conducting and Voice. We took part in several projects, including LSU A Cappella Choir, Chamber Singers, and the opera program with which we set up The Magic Flute (Mozart) and The Barber of Seville (Rossini).

During my second doctoral recital with Chamber Singers, I premiered Divina Trilogia, by composer Liduino Pitombeira. The piece, for soprano solo, SATB, violin, cello, piano and percussion, was written for that ensemble and, more specifically, for the voice of Lisette Oropesa that was the soloist. With LSU A Cappella Choir, we toured in the US as well as in Europe. In 2003, for example, we went to France, Italy and Austria. In Paris we performed twice. We sang the Mass in E-flat Major by Josef Rheinberger during the Eucharistic celebration at Notre Dame Cathedral and also at the Église de la Madaleine, where Gabriel Fauré had worked as an organist. In Austria, between Graz and Linz, we spent a couple of days in Vienna. We figured out that Placido Domingo was conducting Puccini's La Bohème at the Wiener Staatsoper. We rushed to buy our tickets. Because we had little money, the only place available was at the balcony on the top floor of that monumental theater. Although far way from stage, we rented a pair of binoculars to see the masters in action.

Later, we headed to the Linz International Choral Festival, under the direction of Dr. Kenneth Fulton. There Lisette, Lindsey Piatoly, Tim Kennedy, and I were the soloists for Joseph Haydn's Missa in Tempori Belli. Some US choirs joined the performance of the Paukenmesse at the Brucknerhaus. The orchestra had musicians from the Vienna and Czechoslovak Philharmonics. It was a unique experience in which we had the opportunity to make music, get connected, and share dreams.

After completing my doctorate, I returned home from where I have been following the trajectory of this phenomenon, from her arrival at the Metropolitan opera program in New York to her debut into La Scala in Milan, always alongside renowned performers. This week she will sing for the first time in our country in Rio de Janeiro (more information), which is why all these and many other stories have been revived with emotion in my memory. I wish I could be able to attend this concert. It would be great to hear and see her again. Unfortunately, I cannot because of my activities. Anyway, I would like to thank and congratulate you. The passion, beauty and poetry of your voice nurish our hopes, make us work for a better world, Lisette Oropesa. Welcome to Brazil!

Vladimir Silva (silvladimir@gmail.com)