PRESS RELEASES
| Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán Returns to The Soraya with a full-length “mariachi opera”
The world’s first mariachi musical Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (To Cross the Face of the Moon) created by Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan’s Jose “Pepe” Martinez and Broadway’s Leonard Foglia, will have its Los Angeles premiere at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya) on Friday, February 16 at 8:00pm, Saturday, February 17 at 8:00pm and Sunday, February 18 at 3:00pm.
| The Classic 1950’s Cuban Sound Joyously Comes to Life When Juan de Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All-Stars Make Debut at The Soraya
The electrifying Afro-Cuban All-Stars, under the guidance of legendary Juan de Marcos, pay tribute to Cuba’s golden age of music when the band makes its debut at The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya) on Friday, January 19. Mixing the joy and melancholy for Cuba’s past with the exuberant sounds of contemporary performance, the 17-piece Afro-Cuban All-Stars bring the next generation of Cuban music to life on stage. In addition, the evening will also feature The Soraya debut of the Havana-based Harold López-Nussa Trio, which will open the evening.
| Flamenco Powerhouse Leilah Broukhim Returns to The Soraya with the LA Debut of Dejando Huellas (Traces)
After her wildly popular 2015 debut, flamenco dance dynamo Leilah Broukhim returns to The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (formerly Valley Performing Arts Center) with Dejando Huellas (Traces), a personal story about her own Jewish and Persian heritage. Broukhim’s furious flamenco footwork exalts the Spanish art form, while her emotional expression tells the tale of a woman searching for meaning and identity. Dejando Huellas makes its LA debut after performances in Paris, New York, Madrid, and Copenhagen.
| The Klezmatics Happy Joyous Hanukkah
Valley Performing Arts Center (The Soraya) welcome The Klezmatics on Saturday, December 16 at 8:00pm as they celebrate Yiddish culture at this time of year when candles and family warm the dark nights. As outspoken human rights advocates, their Hanukkah celebration embraces audiences of all cultures and backgrounds as they explore Hanukkah lyrics by Woody Guthrie, father of American Folk Music.
| A Michael Feinstein Holiday Celebration
Valley Performing Arts Center (The Soraya) welcomes back two-time Emmy nominee and five-time Grammy nominee Michael Feinstein to perform in a Holiday Celebration including Classic Standards as well as selections from his album, A Michael Feinstein Christmas on Friday, December 8 at 8:00pm.
| Eliot Fisk, Guitar J.S. Bach Cello Suites 1, 3 & 6
Guitarist Eliot Fisk, known worldwide as a charismatic performer famed for his adventurous and virtuosic repertoire, will perform the J. S. Bach cello Suites 1, 3, and 6 as he has transcribed for guitar onstage at the Valley Performing Arts Center (The Soraya) on Wednesday, December 6 at 8:00 pm.
| Latin Grammy Award-winners iLe & Gaby Moreno Make Debut at The Soraya in One-Night-Only Double Bill of Cross-Cultural Latin Music
iLe (Ileana Cabra Joglar) is a Puerto Rican singer, composer and vocalist who spent a decade touring Latin America with her brothers in the popular band Calle 13. Now, as successful solo artist she comes to Los Angeles performing music from her recent album that combines alt-rock with traditional boleros. Gaby Moreno, who sings the theme song for the series opening intro of Disney’s first Latina princess Elena of Avalor, moved to the US from Guatemala after high school and now calls Los Angeles her home. Her guitar and bluesy vocals move easily between pop, soul, and classic Latin sounds. Both boast a Latin Grammy win and will serve up their unique blend of cultures onstage as part of the Music Knows No Borders series at VPAC (The Soraya) on Saturday, November 18 at 8pm.
| Jazz Sensation Anat Cohen and Her Tentet Celebrate the Release of Her Latest Album, “Happy Song” at VPAC (The Soraya)
The Israeli-born, Brooklyn-based virtuoso clarinetist, Anat Cohen, presents a tapestry of sound that captures the jubilation of many genres, spanning modern and traditional jazz, Brazilian choro, klezmer and much more.
| DIAVOLO | Architecture in Motion® Celebrates 25th Anniversary at VPAC (The Soraya)
Following the DIAVOLO | Architecture in Motion® stunning multi-week appearances as finalists on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, LA’s own daredevil dance company wraps its 25th Anniversary milestone season at Valley Performing Arts Company (The Soraya) with a participatory all-day, indoor-outdoor “open house” series of free workshops, community activities, and three fully staged performances (1:00pm, 3:00pm and 7:00pm) featuring 11 DIAVOLO works, followed by a free dance party on Saturday, November 11 from 1:00pm to 11:00pm.