Composer: Manuel Alvarez, Cuates Castilla, Jose Angel Espinoza, Pedro Galindo, Maria Grever, Rafael Hernández, José Alfredo Jiménez, Augustin Lara, Francisco López, Fernando Velázquez Menéndez, Alfonso Esparza Oteo, Moises Simons
Performer: Antonio Figueroa, Alexandre Figueroa, Jose-Luis Figueroa, Manuel Figueroa, Tomy Figueroa-Cuti, Esteban Duran, Anton Virquis, Johanne Goyett, La Familia Figueroa
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Atma
Catalogue: ACD22856
Release: 2023
Size: 955 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Jiménez: Paloma Querida
02. Jiménez: Deja que salga la luna
03. Simons: Marta
04. Lara: Españolerías
05. López: Le chanteur de Mexico: Mexico
06. Oteo: Dime que sí
07. Castilla: El Pastor
08. Hernández: Diez Años
09. Jiménez: La Noche de mi mal
10. Grever: Júrame
11. Alvarez: Virgencita de Talpa
12. Galindo: La Malagueña
13. Espinoza: Échame a mi la Culpa
14. Menéndez: Ojos Tapatios
Canciones de mi abuelito is deeply personal musical memoire, as told through the art of song by tenor Antonio Figueroa. Accompanied by La Familia Figueroa, a Mariachi band, the classically-trained Figueroa invites listeners to join him in paying homage to the voices and musical traditions that nurtured his childhood and inspired his path. “This recording tells the story of a family of Mexican immigrants who integrated into their new society by cordially sharing the culture of their original home,” says Antonio Figueroa. “Most of these I first heard sung by people who were very dear to me, and all the songs are associated with my loved ones.” Among the songs chosen by Figueroa are Paloma Querida, composed by the celebrated songwriter Jose-Alfredo Jimenez, and “Espanolerias” by Agustin Lara, along with tunes that may be less familiar to Canadian listeners, such as “Malaguena”, “Deja que salga la Luna”, and “El Pastor.”
Closest to Figueroa’s heart are the songs he heard his grandfather and father sing throughout his childhood, such as “Echame a mi la culpa” or “Diez Anos.” Originally from Montreal, Antonio Figueroa began his career with the Atelier lyrique de l’Opera de Montreal. His numerous awards include the International Vocal Art Institute’s Silverman Prize, among others. His successful debut in the role of Nadir (Les pecheurs de perles) at the Opera d’Avignon led to further European engagements with the Opera Comique, the Philharmonie de Paris, and the Capitole de Toulouse; in Liege and Lausanne; and at the Theater an der Wien. He has performed with Pacific Opera, and with opera companies in Quebec, Montreal, and Ottawa. Working with director Peter Brook, he sang the role of Tamino both in the Parisian premiere of The Magic Flute at the Theatre des Bouffes du Nord and on a world tour. After graduating from the Universite de Montreal, he returned there in 2020 to work on his doctorate.