Eglise Gutiérrez as Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata (courtesy of the artist)
When it comes to music, emotion and meaning often transcend language, something Cuban opera singer Eglise Gutiérrez embodies on stage.
Orchestra Miami’s “Cuba, mi Amor” brings that idea to life for a night celebrating Cuban musical heritage, featuring Gutiérrez under the direction of Artistic Director Elaine Rinaldi.
Part of the Pinecrest Classical Series, the concert is at 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 26 at Pinecrest Gardens, featuring works by composers such as Ernesto Lecuona and Eduardo Sánchez de Fuentes, performed with a string ensemble.
As a soprano with an international reputation, Gutiérrez is known for her agility, range and precision in some of opera’s most technically demanding roles. Over the course of her career, she has performed on major stages across the United States and Europe, while consistently incorporating her Cuban repertoire into her performances.
"In all my recitals around the world, I always sing Cuban music at the end," she said. "It’s very important for me to bring this music to the highest level."
Now in Miami, the concert’s selections date back to the 1920s and 1930s, creating a sense of nostalgia rooted in an earlier era of Cuban songwriting. For Rinaldi, programming music that reflects the cultural identity of Miami is a central to her.
“Obviously we have tons of Cuban music in Miami, there’s no lack of it,” Rinaldi said. “In some ways, what we program is very personal to me. I like to celebrate what I think is meaningful to Miami. And we also have this very special person here."
Rinaldi shares that the program is designed to be intimate. Rather than a full orchestra, the concert will feature a string ensemble creating the emotional depth.
Orchestra Miami's “Cuba, mi Amor” will be held in Pinecrest Gardens as apart of the Pinecrest Musical Series. (Courtesy of Larry Shane Photography)
"These are love songs, songs of love and loss. They were originally written for small spaces, not grand halls. We’re not going for something bombastic, we’re going for beauty," she says.
But the emotional core of the music goes beyond language.
"I don’t think the language really matters," Rinaldi said. "It’s about the universal idea of loving, losing and longing. That’s something everyone understands."
And for Gutiérrez, that emotional connection is central to every performance. Her goal remains the same for audiences. whether singing in Miami or abroad.
"In the end, for me, the most important thing is what you transmit to the audience, how they can feel the emotions through this beautiful music," Gutiérrez said.
The concert also highlights a decades long artistic partnership between Gutiérrez and Rinaldi. The two first met in Miami early in Gutiérrez career after she arrived from Cuba. As the then Associate Conductor for Florida Grand Opera, Rinaldi was one of the first to recognize her talent.
"I met so many beautiful people in the United States at the beginning of my life here, first in Miami, and one of them was Elaine Rinaldi," Gutiérrez said. "She kind of discovered me, and then I started to sing in the Florida Grand Opera."
For both artists, the performance is deeply personal rooted not only in musical tradition, but also in shared history.
"I feel like she was one of my mentors," Gutiérrez said. "I was very young when we first met, and she always trusted my talent. Working with her feels like coming home, like family."
Rinaldi echoed her thoughts, sharing the depth of their long-standing collaboration.
"We’ve worked together a lot over the years," she said. "Mostly in opera, but also in many recitals. These songs were always part of her repertoire, so I got to know them very well with her. I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to showcase her in music that she interprets better than anyone I know."
As a conductor and vocal coach, Rinaldi is accustomed to working with different singers of different ranges, but reveals that working with Gutiérrez feels a little different.
"When you work together that much, it becomes a kind of shorthand. You don’t really have to talk, you just know each other," she said referring to Gutiérrez. "She is very different from a lot of the singers that I work with because she knows how to really communicate, and she does that often by stretching phrases quite a bit."
This connection helps to shape the tone of the performance itself.
"As an accompanist, you have to really be on your toes and listening to be able to work with her, to bring her voice to its maximum because she really knows what she's doing when she's doing these effects," she said.
For the people of Miami, whether native to the Cuban heritage or hearing the music for the first time, there is an attractiveness to the music that makes the experience both inviting and deeply engaging, Gutiérrez explained.
"It's worth it to come because the melodies are so beautiful and all of them are different. This format of orchestra and voice, are totally unique with the special arrangements, which is not very often to hear. I think it will be a very special night," she said.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Orchestra Miami "Cuba, Mi Amore," featuring Eglise Gutiérrez
WHEN: 6 p.m., Sunday, April 26
WHERE: Pinecrest Gardens, 11000 SW 57th Ave, Pinecrest
TICKETS: Section A: $50, Seniors- $45, Under 18- $25; Section B: $40, Seniors- $35, Under 18- $20
INFORMATION: www.orchestramiami.org/cuba-mi-amor
