Celia Castro and Max Lifchitz to Sing 'Divine Rose & More' Next Week

Vocalist Celia Castro joins composer/pianist Max Lifchitz for an intimate recital featuring recent and erstwhile vocal and instrumental works by the Mexican born composer and long-time New York City resident.

The event is part of the 2017 Latin American Culture Week in New York sponsored by Pan American Musical Art Research, Inc (PAMAR). It will be held on Tuesday evening November 14 at the auditorium of St. Peter's Church (619 Lexington Avenue at 54th St in Manhattan). It will start at 8 PM and end approximately at 9 PM. The auditorium is ADA accessible. Free admission (no tickets needed).

Newyorican soprano Celia Castro will sing Rosa Divina (Heavenly Rose) Lifchitz's stirring song cycle inspired by the poetry of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, the 17th century Mexican writer and pioneer feminist. Completed last year, this song cycle received its first hearing under the auspices of the recently held 2017 Contemporary Music Festival in Santiago Chile. Lifchitz will open the program performing his Cinco Preludios and Tema con Variaciones, two early piano works written in Mexico City over fifty years ago while as a young man he was pondering the possibility of pursuing a career in music. Other works to be performed include Lifchitz's humorous songs Three Concerted Madrigals based on 16th century Italian poetry; Eres tu (You Are the One) and Elegia (Elegy).

Lifchitz began studying music in his native México City under the tutelage of Spanish composer Rodolfo Halffter. In 1966, he was awarded a scholarship to study with Luciano Berio at The Juilliard School. Lifchitz's compositional activities have been possible thanks to grants from among others, the ASCAP, Ford and Guggenheim Foundations; the New York State Council for the Arts Individual Artists Program; and the National Endowment for the Arts. Awarded first prize in the 1976 Gaudeamus Competition for Performers of Contemporary Music held in Holland, Lifchitz has appeared as pianist on concert stages throughout Europe, Latin America and the US.

Tuesday, November 14 at 8 PM
St Peter's Church -- Iglesia de Sion 619 Lexington Avenue (at 54th St)
New York City
Free Admission (no tickets necessary)