This festival revolves around Ravel, an artist crossing over the French and Spanish worlds, hence here is a vocal program offering the same combination. It starts with French opera arias, the first one on a Spanish subject. There follows an aria by a post-war Mexican composer, on a Chilean subject, then three melodies from Spanish zarzuelas, all three very famous in that country. Next, we hear three French art songs, and finally, five Mexican popular songs from the 20th century, chosen among the most famous and beloved. The last one, Agustín Lara’s Granada, enjoyed widespread popularity in Italy as well, in Claudio Villa’s vocal rendition.
