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Rolando Villazón (L) and Xavier de Maistre to give a joint recital this Sunday. Photos courtesy of Shenzhen Concert Hall
Rolando Villazón, acclaimed as one of the new generation of “Three Tenors” alongside Jonas Kaufmann and Juan Diego Flórez, will make his debut in Shenzhen this Sunday.
In this joint recital titled “Serenata Latina” (“Latin Serenade”) with French virtuoso harpist Xavier de Maistre, Villazón will spotlight composers from his native Mexico as well as other parts of South America. The program features songs and canzonas by Carlos Guastavino, Antonio Estévez, Yvette Souviron, Silvio Rodríguez, and others.
Born in Mexico City, Villazón began his musical training at Mexico’s National Conservatory before joining the junior programs of Pittsburgh Opera and San Francisco Opera. He won both the Zarzuela Prize and the Audience Prize at the Operalia Plácido Domingo competition in 1999.
That same year, he made his European debut as Des Grieux in Massenet’s “Manon” in Genoa, followed by his portrayal of Macduff in Verdi’s “Macbeth” in Berlin. Since then, he has been regularly invited to perform on major international opera stages worldwide.
Mexican tenor Rolando Villazón is acclaimed as one of the new generation of “Three Tenors” alongside Jonas Kaufmann and Juan Diego Flórez.
In addition to performing, Villazón has directed numerous operas and published three bestselling novels. He hosted his own series, “Stars of Tomorrow,” on the European cultural channel Arte and is a frequent presence on Klassik Radio. In 2017, he was appointed ambassador of the Mozarteum Foundation in Salzburg, where he currently serves as artistic director.
A master of Italian, German, and French opera, Villazón brings a multifaceted charisma to the stage. In his album “Serenata Latina,” however, the tenor offers a sound marked by quiet introspection and depth — a heartfelt homage to his homeland and Latin American musical traditions.
Thanks to the confluence of indigenous, European, and African influences, Latin America offers one of the richest art song repertoires in the world. This album — recorded in 2020 with de Maistre — showcases a rich variety of rhythms, melodies, and narrative forms.
Xavier de Maistre became the first French harpist to join the Vienna Philharmonic.
De Maistre, a graduate of Sciences Po and the London School of Economics and never formally trained in a conservatory, became the first French harpist to join the Vienna Philharmonic. Recently appointed resident musician with the Basel Symphony Orchestra, he collaborates with esteemed conductors such as Ivor Bolton, Tan Dun, and David Reiland.
De Maistre has found a deep connection to Latin music through the works of Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera, whose harp concertos defy the instrument’s traditional romantic salon image with a strikingly percussive character. The album’s selections are not only melodious but also offer profound reflections on life.
The concert will feature live performances of these works, including the Mexican folk classic “La Llorona” (“The Weeping Woman”), where Villazón’s passionate voice combines growls and sobbing tremors to bring intense drama to the familiar melody. The harp replaces the typical guitar accompaniment, lending a mythical melancholy to the piece.
Also on the program are art songs by Carlos Guastavino, one of Argentina’s foremost classical composers, including “Se equivocó la paloma” (“The Dove Was Mistaken”) and “La rosa y el sauce” (“The Rose and the Willow”).
Audiences can look forward to an evening of sublime vocal and instrumental fusion, where the harp’s ethereal tones and Villazón’s passionate singing intertwine, adding tenderness and mystery to the fiery vibes of Latin melodies.
Time: 8 p.m., June 8
Tickets: 180-780 yuan
