Lyric Music & More: October 13

As Hispanic Heritage Month draws to a close this week, we invite you to enjoy the beautiful song “Estrellita,” written by one of the most celebrated Mexican musicians of the twentieth century, Miguel Ponce, and performed by soprano Ailyn Pérez. A prolific composer of piano, chamber ensemble, and orchestral music, Ponce was hailed for his ability to connect the concert hall to the world of Mexican folk song.

In the text, which Ponce wrote as well, the singer tells the “estrellita” (“little star”) above that she’ll die without the love of her beloved, so the star must come down and tell her if he loves her just a little. Enjoy this clip from For the Love of Lyric, and then watch the full concert.

Plus, impress your friends and colleagues with some new Zoom backgrounds, play a game of “Spot the Maestro,” celebrate the legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti’s birthday, and see the latest on our new seating project.

Some creepy backdrops for your video calls

Need to spice up your Zoom meetings with a little fall flavor? Use one of our spooky Lyric backgrounds.

Boo!

Find the maestro in these photos

Remember “Where’s Waldo”? Swap the red-and-white striped cap for a pair of red glasses, and the gangly cartoon character for Lyric’s renowned Italian conductor, Enrique Mazzola, and you have “Spot the Maestro”!

Find him

The great Italian tenor would have been 85 years old

Luciano Pavarotti was one of the greatest tenors of his generation, and for so many, he bridged the gap between the classical music world and popular culture. In honor of his birthday yesterday, see his life in pictures, from his birth in Modena, Italy, through his rise to fame.

Blow out the candles

Every project has its challenges

Work continues on our new seating project, and as any HGTV fan knows, even the most beautiful old homes can have their surprises and setbacks. For our house, that was finding a patch of lead paint on the Main Floor of the theater. See how our crew responded to the challenge to keep this project moving.

Take a look

Part 2: Introduzione

The curtain opens and a grand fanfare brings us right into the drama as the legendary warrior Attila arrives at a party of Huns. The soldiers exalt their King, praising his skills on the battlefield in this choral-heavy passage. Listen closely for the brief moment of silence just before the finale — a signature of Verdi’s writing.

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Music is powerful. As people listen to it, they can be affected. They respond.

Ray Charles