FEBRUARY 2012 ISSUE Marc Anthony Marc Anthony took some time this Saturday to bring joy to kids of Orphanage "Niños de Cristo" in La Romana, Dominican Republic while on holiday retreat with his immediate staff in the Caribbean. The Orphanage takes care of 140 girls and 43 boys who have suffered from domestic violence and other types of abuse. José Feliciano recibió el Premio Nacional San Sebastián de Puerto Rico por su contribución a la cultura del país José Feliciano fue entrevistado por medios de comunicación a nivel internacional en Puerto Rico. Feliciano fue invitado a participar en el evento de celebración del cumpleaños de Elvis Presley en Memphis El cantante, compositor y guitarrista boricua José Feliciano viajó a Puerto Rico del 11 al 13 de enero para recoger el Premio Nacional San Sebastián, otorgado "por su trayectoria musical a nivel mundial por más de cinco décadas, por su conducta intachable, por reconocer que es de Puerto Rico, por participar en causas benéficas, y por probarle al mundo que no hay impedimento para triunfar en la vida", según anunció el presidente del evento Luis Arroyo. Las fiestas nacionales de San Sebastián del Viejo San Juan se han convertido en el evento cultural más importante de Puerto Rico, consisten en procesiones de Los Cabezudos, el Baile de Epoca, la Feria del Libro, la Feria de Artesanía, un festival infantil, misas, concursos y la actuación de 50 grupos musicales, es una fiesta donde se mezcla la tradición santoral con las artes populares y cultas. El año pasado se homenajeó a Ricky Martin y el anterior a Tito Nieves, este año se honró a José Feliciano el día 12 de enero a las 6 de la tarde en la Plaza del Quinto Centenario, junto al maestro gráfico Luis Alonso y al ídolo deportista subcampeón mundial de atletismo Javier Culson. José Montserrate Feliciano García, nombre completo del artista, ofreció entrevistas a los medios de comunicación nacionales e internacionales durante los días 11 al 13 de enero en San Juan, Puerto Rico. El señor Feliciano viajó de Memphis, donde fue invitado a cantar durante el cumpleaños de Elvis Presley en Graceland, Memphis, durante el 7 de enero. El nuevo álbum de José, Elvis Presley by José Feliciano, que saldrá al mercado en abril de este año, ya cuenta con todo el apoyo de los fans de Elvis. El primer sencillo a promocionar será "All Shook Up", una de las míticas canciones de Elvis en la que cuenta como se siente un hombre enamorado con un toque de humor. Feliciano se encuentra trabajando mucho alrededor de todo el mundo, ofreciendo conciertos y recibiendo grandes premios y reconocimientos como el Lifetime Achievment Award de la Academia de los Grammys® Latinos en Las Vegas, o el recientemente Café Don José Feliciano inaugurado en Viena. Además está terminando también un álbum en español llamado Alma Rebelde, en el que sorprenderá a sus seguidores con un trabajo nacido de lo más profundo de su ser. Ahora puede seguir a José Feliciano en Twitter@01Josefeliciano para español y @a1Josefeliciano para el mercado anglosajón. CONTACTOS Provi García (PUERTO RICO) Correo electrónico: provi.garcia@mediaforceus.com Teléfono: (787) 218-8597 La Phil Announces Complete Creative Team For Fully Staged Don Giovanni Led By Gustavo Dudamel Designers Kate And Laura Mulleavy Of Rodarte Make Operatic Costume Debut Set Design By Architect Frank Gehry Christopher Alden Directs Full Cast Confirmed Friday, May 18, 2012 At 8 P.M. Sunday, May 20, 2012 At 2 P.M. Thursday, May 24, 2012 At 8 P.M. Saturday, May 26, 2012 At 8 P.M. The Los Angeles Philharmonic have revealed the complete creative team and full cast for Don Giovanni, the first installment of an ambitious three-year Mozart/Da Ponte opera project presented at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Joining Gustavo Dudamel, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Frank Gehry are Kate and Laura Mulleavy, founders of fashion house Rodarte, and acclaimed director Christopher Alden. One of the most celebrated young interpreters of the role, Polish baritone Mariusz Kwiecien will lead an international cast as Don Giovanni, sharing the stage with equally notable soloists in the following roles: Kevin Burdette, Leporello Carmela Remigio, Donna Anna Aga Mikolaj, Donna Elvira Pavol Breslik, Don Ottavio Anna Prohaska, Zerlina Ryan Kuster, Masetto Stefan Kocan, Commendatore Three of the greatest operas ever written were collaborations between librettist Lorenzo da Ponte and composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and Cosė fan tutte. Over the next three years, the LA Phil will present the trilogy (one opera each season), each conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. Set designs will be created by three of the most influential architects of our time, and each architect will work with leading fashion designers to create a unique and distinctive visual setting for each of these timeless masterpieces. Each complete opera performance will be a Walt Disney Concert Hall first. In a fitting beginning, Don Giovanni brings together an acclaimed, Los Angeles-based team. Architect Frank Gehry returns to Walt Disney Concert Hall — the landmark building of his own design that not only transformed Los Angeles, but is now one of the most recognized architectural structures in America - to create an environment uniquely imagined for this auditorium. "This is an inspiring opportunity to work with my friends at the Los Angeles Philharmonic. This is a project very close to Gustavo Dudamel's heart. He knows the music like the back of his hand, and has a unique vision that I find very exciting," says Gehry. "Kate and Laura's work reminds me of my early days — it is free and fearless and not precious." Gehry envisions a set that he describes as a "moving still-life on the stage" that works in concert with the costumes and supports the music of Don Giovanni. Gehry's modifications will place the orchestra upstage on raised lifts approximately three and a half feet above the action taking place downstage. The choir benches will be removed to allow space for the orchestra. This layout aims to create a unified ensemble between the orchestra and soloists, with a focus on the action at the front of the stage, creating intimacy between the soloists and audience. This configuration has recently been tested in a rehearsal with Gustavo Dudamel and Yasuhisa Toyota, the chief acoustician who collaborated with Gehry and the Los Angeles Philharmonic to develop Walt Disney Concert Hall's visual and acoustic designs. California natives, Kate and Laura Mulleavy — the creative force behind the internationally recognized fashion house Rodarte- make their operatic costume debut. Founded in Los Angeles in 2005, Rodarte is the winner of the Cooper Hewitt 2010 National Design Award for fashion and the designers and creators of the ballet costumes for the Academy Award winning film, Black Swan. Admirers of Gustavo Dudamel and Frank Gehry, Kate and Laura are honored to be a part of the Don Giovanni creative team. "Frank Gehry is an incredible artist and brilliant innovator whose unparalleled vision has redefined the modern landscape. We are great admirers of Gustavo Dudamel's masterful and inspired direction," says Kate and Laura. "Opera has always been a part of us; our grandmother was from Rome and studied it as a young girl. To be a part of the legacy of Don Giovanni is an amazing opportunity. Working with Frank Gehry in the concert hall that he designed, alongside Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, is a dream." Kate and Laura's ambition is to create a timeless context for Mozart's characters, bringing together tradition and their unique point of view. Director Christopher Alden belongs to a generation of modernist directors known for his use of contemporary imagery and, on occasion, minimalist visual style. He has an eye for bold theatrical gestures that are dramatically effective and his approach to stagecraft is driven by a desire to reveal how powerfully opera stories can resonate with modern experience. Alden has said that: "however fascinating the era in which an opera was composed may be, I have a primary responsibility to the world we live in now." Christopher Alden replaces Paul Curran, who had to step down from the production due to scheduling issues. Le nozze di Figaro, the second installment of the LA Phil's Mozart/Da Ponte trilogy, will be performed in May 2013, and the trilogy will conclude with a production of Cosė fan tutte in May 2014. For more information, please visit: http://www.laphil.com. The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under the vibrant leadership of Music Director Gustavo Dudamel, presents an inspiring array of music from all genres — orchestral, chamber and Baroque music, organ and celebrity recitals, new music, jazz, world music and pop — at two of L.A.'s iconic venues, Walt Disney Concert Hall (www.laphil.com) and the Hollywood Bowl (www.hollywoodbowl.com). The LA Phil's season at Walt Disney Concert Hall extends from October through May, and throughout the summer at the Hollywood Bowl. With the preeminent Los Angeles Philharmonic at the foundation of its offerings, the LA Phil aims to enrich and transform lives through music, with a robust mix of artistic, education and community programs. WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL, 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles MOZART/DA PONTE TRILOGY Don Giovanni Los Angeles Philharmonic Gustavo Dudamel, Conductor Christopher Alden, Director Frank Gehry, Designer Rodarte, Costume Designers Mariusz Kwiecien, Don Giovanni Kevin Burdette, Leporello Carmela Remigio, Donna Anna Aga Mikolaj, Donna Elvira Pavol Breslik, Don Ottavio Anna Prohaka, Zerlina Ryan Kuster, Masetto Stefan Kocan, Comendatore Los Angeles Master Chorale Grant Gershon, Music Director Subscriptions and single tickets for the Los Angeles Philharmonic's 2011/12 season at Walt Disney Concert Hall are currently available. To purchase, please visit LAPhil.com, the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office or any Ticketmaster outlet. To order by phone with credit card, please call the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office at 323.850.2000, or Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000. For more information, please call 323.850.2000. CONTACT: PR Office, 213.972.3034 Sophie Jefferies, 213.972.3422, sjefferies@laphil.org Lisa Bellamore, 213.972.3689, lbellamore@laphil.org Zoé Successfully Returns to the United States Accompanied by Spanish Singer-Songwriter Enrique Bunbury Latin Grammy winners on their second tour of the year in U.S.A. After having received the greatest recognition of their careers by winning two Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas, members of Zoé are ready to conquer the U.S for second time now along with Enrique Bunbury. With the undisputable success of their latest production MTV Unplugged, Música de Fondo, Zoé embarked on one of the most extensive tours of their career with sold-out shows throughout Mexico, Spain, Latin America and a summer tour of nearly 30 cities in the United States. Zoé returned to the United States with Spanish singer-songwriter Enrique Bunbury, with whom the band had previously collaborated with the song "Nada", which is also part of the CD/ DVD MTV Unplugged, Música de Fondo. Following the success of this production, the band released in Mexico the special edition of its album MTV Unplugged, Música de Fondo, which contains the song "Besame Mucho", played in their live shows and which debuted #1 in sales iTunes México. This new tour culminates on December 2nd in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Heineken Flash mob at the 2011 Latin GRAMMYs On November 10, 2011, Heineken brought the unexpected to the Latin GRAMMY's by taking over the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas with a one of a kind flash mob experience celebrating Latin music. Taking the audience by surprise, the flash mob unfolded just minutes prior to the LIVE telecast of the 12th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards. The crowd was amazed and delighted with a legendary flash mob dance. The video was inspired by Heineken's latest TV ad titled "The Date," but this version fuses different genre of Latin music in a fun-filled celebration. For the past 12 years, Heineken has celebrated the best Latin Music has to offer through its support of the Latin GRAMMYs. The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) Launches New Music Competition for Unsigned Artists Top Level Record Industry Executives To Mentor Grand Prize Winner Six-Day Inclusive Program Features All-Access Pass to Concerts, Events and People-to-People Encounters The International Songwriting Competition (ISC), one of the world's largest songwriting competitions, has launched Unsigned Only, a new, unique international music competition. Designed for solo artists, bands, and singers who are not signed to a major record label, Unsigned Only's goal is to find an outstanding, talented performing artist: a band, singer, or solo artist...a newcomer or veteran...raw or polished — the "gem" that needs to be discovered. Unsigned Only is looking for the total package. Judging criteria includes vocals, performance, songwriting, and originality. Completely separate and distinct from ISC, Unsigned Only is a fresh and novel approach to other music competitions. Not only does it offer great prizes, recognition, exposure, and the chance to be heard by a group of judges consisting of high-profile recording artists and industry professionals, but it also takes it a step further and puts the Grand Prize winner in direct, personal contact with the influential record label executives who are the ultimate decision makers. For the first time ever, a music competition offers the Grand Prize winner the unprecedented opportunity to be mentored by a group of record company presidents, A&R reps, and more. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for an artist to directly network with the top echelon of record company professionals and get guidance, advice, feedback, and networking opportunities. The founders of Unsigned Only, Jim Morgan and Candace Avery, talk about the new venture: "We are pleased to introduce a new music competition of this caliber to artists throughout the world. Having worked with a wide variety of artists over many years, we know that what artists want most is access to record label professionals. However, it is virtually impossible for most up-and-coming artists to have direct access to this elite and elusive group of decision makers. So, Unsigned Only is offering the unprecedented opportunity for the Grand Prize winner to network with and be mentored by a prestigious group of record label executives. This has never been done before, and we are excited about the possibilities it affords the Unsigned Only winner." The judging panel is comprised of an impressive group of recording artists, producers, and top-level music journalists. They include: 3 Doors Down; Manchester Orchestra; Cyndi Lauper; Robert Smith (The Cure); Jeremy Camp; Craig Morgan; Kelly Clarkson; Steve Lillywhite (Producer); Matt and Kim; St. Vincent; The Mountain Goats; Josh Jackson (Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief, Paste Magazine); Scott Lapatine (Founder, Stereogum); and more to be announced. The panel of mentors who have signed on to participate is equally impressive. Included are: Monte Lipman (President of Universal Republic); Pete Ganbarg (Executive Vice President/Head of A&R, Atlantic Records); David Wolter (Senior VP of A&R, RCA Records); Kim Stephens (President, Forward Entertainment and A&R/Capitol Music Group); Trevor Jerideau (VP of A&R, J Records); David Wilkes (VP of A&R, eOne Music); Pete Giberga (Head of A&R, Razor & Tie Records); Jason Geter (President, Grand Hustle Records); and more to be announced. The Grand Prize Winner will be awarded $5,000 in cash (plus additional prizes) and one-on-one mentoring by an elite group of record company executives. First Place and Second Place winners will also be selected in each category. Entries are being accepted now until March 5, 2012. Winners will be announced in July, 2012. Categories include: AAA (Adult Album Alternative), AC (Adult Contemporary), Christian Music, Country, Folk/Singer-Songwriter, R&B/Hip-Hop, Rock, Pop/Top 40, and Vocal Performance. All entries must be original music except for the Vocal Performance category which accepts original or cover songs. Judging criteria in the Vocal Performance category will be based solely on the quality of the vocals, thereby allowing singers who do not write their own songs the opportunity to enter. For more information, please contact Candace Avery at 615.251.4441 or cavery@unsignedonly.com. For entry and general information, please go to http://www.unsignedonly.com