It was 10 years ago that I met the remarkable Mexican soprano Olivia Gorra, at the 2003 Festival Internacional de Cervantino. She had just made her Metropolitan Opera debut in Turandot, with more performances to come.
The pride of Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Olivia performed an outdoor program at Guanajuato's Alhondiga which was capped off by a rousing set with her fellow Veracruzanos, the folkloric ensemble Tlen Huicani. Despite her numerous opera house successes, I doubt she has ever had them dancing in the aisles at the Met.
This was really an incredible evening. If you can find it, Olivia's CD of songs by Agustin Lara is well worth a listen. If you can't find it, listen to several of those songs on tomorrow's (January 6) edition of Itinerarios from 7-9 p.m. on KPAC.
