Voices for All Souls Day in the Bronx: Songs and Poetry Inspired in Poe and Pales

Mezzo soprano and Bronx resident Anna Tonna teams up with Puerto Rican composer and pianist Luis Gustavo Prado, in a multi disciplinary night of original and romantic era song and poetry readings and video art in a homage to one time Bronx resident Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), and Puerto Rican poet Luis Palés Matos (1898-1859). Using All Souls Day as a spiritual bridge, Prado has created a program of original songs composed by him, together with songs by Haydn, Schubert, Schumann and 18th century Irish melodies, upon poetry by Thomas Moore, Ann Hunter, Goethe, Poe and Palés Matos. The intense admiration for Poe by poet Luis Palés Matos is brought out in this theatricalized evening with motifs of loss, suffering, wisdom and redemption. With original video art by Antonio López. The performers are pianist Luis Gustavo Prado, award winning actress Adriana Sananes, singers Anna Tonna and Brian Murray. The performance will be followed by a post concert lecture, led by Bronx poet and performance artist, Mariposa Teresa Fernández.

This performance is made possible by a grant from the Bronx Council for the arts and The Puffin Foundation, and in collaboration with PREGONES Puerto Rican Traveling Theater and The Bronx Historical Society.