ARTS & CULTURE

The choir’s all here

Barry University professor Dr. Giselle Rios, director of choral and vocal studies, led more than 160 performers from five choirs April 21 at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Rios, who two years ago became the first Cuban-American woman to conduct at Carnegie Hall, directed Barry University’s 30-person choir, as well as students from the Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart, St. Thomas the Apostle and South Miami High School. The orchestra accompanying the choirs was the New England Symphonic Ensemble.

The all-Hispanic performance at Carnegie Hall was produced by Mid-America Production company. The evening began with a world premiere of “Gloria” in Spanish by Fred Coulter, which featured soloist Eduardo San Emeterio. The performance also featured Cuban and Spanish zarzuelas (a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre), including choruses from “Maria La O” and “Cecilia Valdes,” which were arranged by Grammy-nominee Alfredo Munar. The evening concluded with Chôros No. 10, Rasga o Coração by the Brazilian composter Villa-Lobos.