September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic Cultural Heritage month — a time to pay homage to the countless contributions of Hispanic/Latino Americans of today and years past. From Tito Puente and Antônio Carlos Jobim to Pablo Picasso and Frida Kahlo, Hispanic peoples have contributed significantly to many art forms. This includes influencing the state of music today by infusing their cultural backgrounds to create unforgettable compositions and performances.
Hispanic artists have long represented a part of CMA’s rich history. In the 1969-70 Season legendary Chilean pianist Claudio Arrau, recognized for his interpretations of contemporary and Romantic literature, headlined a Civic Music performance.
Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval
More recently, during CMA’s 1995-96 Season, Cuban jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval was featured. Known for his high trumpet register abilities and improvisational technique in the fastest of chord progressions, Sandoval has long blown away his audiences. Farther back during the 1944-45 season, CMA hosted the immensely talented Bidu Sayão, a Brazilian soprano and leading artist of the New York City Metropolitan Opera. Known for her delicate voice, she was frequently praised for her expressiveness, sensibility, and excellence of phrasing.
These are just a few of the numerous Hispanic musicians CMA has brought to Des Moines. This season, we are thrilled to highlight the immense talent of the GRAMMY nominated Alfredo Rodriguez, a Cuban jazz pianist and composer.
CMA is also proud to be a partner of the Iowa Latino Heritage Festival, a two-day celebration from September 23-24 with food, dance, music, art, and much more. Join CMA and Iowa Latino Heritage Festival in celebrating the many talented Hispanic artists today and every day.
