TRIBUTO A PIAZZOLLA, Renaceré en Buenos Aires
/JANELL MEADOR
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n the evening of August 30, 2013, in Doctor Mora, Guanajuato, México, Alicia Rappoport performed her one woman show, “Reborn in Buenos Aires” to a full house of residents and visitors from San Miguel de Allende and the United States of America.
Those gathered on the pleasant evening in Doctor Mora, far from a metropolis, were held spell-bound by Rappoport’s seductive stage presence and vibrant voice.
As she passionately sang about love, loss, and patriotism, one did not have to understand Spanish or to be familiar with tango to be mesmerized by her performance. Accompanied by Gabriel Fernandez on the bandoneon, who has played with such notables as Raul Di Blasio and Eugenia Leon, and Mauro Ledesma on the keyboard, a young Mexican talent, Rappoport took her audience from train station, to hotel room, to the streets of Buenos Aires with a few simple props and her smart 1940’s costuming.
The commanding performance allowed the audience a complete suspension of dis-belief, and transported them along with Rappoport as she ran the gambit of emotions from euphoria to tragedy.
The performance ended to the sounds of a rousing standing ovation from the appreciative audience. When the applause died down, Rappoport stood graciously at the door as every person in the audience stopped to hold her hands and tell her of their emotions.
Alicia Rappoport is, without a doubt, one of the leading advocates of “New Tango.” Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992), was world-renowned for the style in which he combined traditional tango with jazz, and classical music, and lyrics from famous poets Horacio Ferrer, Eladia Blasquez, Jorge Luis Borges and Pablo Neruda. Born in Argentina, Piazzolla lived and performed all over the world.
Argentine psychoanalysis Carlos Kuri said, “Piazzolla’s fusion of tango with this wide range of other recognizable Western musical elements was so successful that it produced a new individual style transcending these influences.” Biographers estimate that Piazzolla wrote around 3,000 pieces and recorded around 500.
“Reborn in Buenos Aires” is a collaboration between Rappoport and her vocal coach, and stage director, Joseph McClain, the founder and director of the Austin Lyric Opera, Austin, Texas.
Trained in classic ballet and ethnic dances since she was a child, Rappoport began her singing career learning popular music with Luis Jara, a world-renowned, multi-award winning singer, and continued among others, her professional opera training and acting with Joseph McClain.
Janell Meador is a Contributor at Cupcakes In Regalia, an art review magazine, and review at Mid –America visual art publications, USA.
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n la tarde del 30 de agosto de 2013, en Dr. Mora, Guanajuato, México, Alicia Rappoport interpretó su unipersonal “Renaceré en Buenos Aires” ante una sala llena de residentes, visitantes de San Miguel de Allende y los Estados Unidos. Aquellos reunidos en esa encantadora tarde en Dr. Mora, lejos de la metrópolis, fueron hechizados por la seductora presencia escénica y la vibrante voz de Rappoport. Mientras cantaba acerca del amor, las pérdidas y el patriotismo, no era necesario entender español o estar familiarizado con el tango para caer bajo el influjo de su interpretación.
Acompañada por Gabriel Fernández en el bandoneón, músico que ha tocado junto a figuras notables como Raúl Di Blasio y Eugenia de León; y Mauro Ledesma, un joven talento mexicano en los teclados, Rappoport trasladó a su público a través de una estación de tren, una habitación de hotel y las calles de Buenos Aires con una decoración sencilla y su elegante atuendo de 1940.
La imponente interpretación permitió al público dejar de lado la incredulidad dejándose transportar por Rappoport mientras ella los llevaba por un abanico de emociones, desde la euforia a la tragedia. La interpretación culminó con el sonido de una emocionante ovación de pie de parte del público. Cuando el aplauso se extinguió, Rappoport se paró gentilmente junto a la puerta para que cada uno de los asistentes pudiera estrechar su mano y transmitirle sus emociones.
Alicia Rappoport es sin lugar a dudas, una de las promotoras principales del “Nuevo Tango”, Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992), compositor reconocido internacionalmente por el estilo en el que combinaba tango tradicional con jazz y música clásica y letras de famosos poetas como Horacio Ferrer, Eladia Blásquez, Jorge Luis Borges y Pablo Neruda. Nacido en Argentina, Piazzolla vivió y realizó interpretaciones en todo el mundo.
“Renaceré en Buenos Aires” es una colaboración entre Rappoport y su profesor de canto y director de escena, Joseph McClain, fundador y director de la ópera lírica de Austin, en Austin, Texas.
Janell Meador es Colaboradora de Cupcakes In Regalia, una publicación de reseñas de arte, y crítica de la publicación de artes visuales Mid –America.
