Arias to American Voices
Acclaimed soprano and FIU alumna Laura León returns to the FIU Music Festival with internationally renowned pianist Robert Koenig for Arias to American Voices, a program that moves from the operatic stage to the breadth of American song.
Opening with arias that showcase León’s coloratura, dramatic presence, and exceptional range, the evening then turns to a commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary. Works by George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, Douglas Moore, Margaret Bonds, and others bring together American opera, Broadway, spirituals, and folk traditions.
A sample performance
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Laura León
Cuban-American soprano Laura León is swiftly establishing herself as a rising star on the operatic stage, captivating audiences with a voice that “sparkles, seduces, and languishes.” Renowned for her Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute and for performing all four heroines in The Tales of Hoffmann, she brings remarkable versatility in both vocal technique and dramatic expression.
Recent highlights include Rose in the world premiere of The Factotum with Lyric Opera of Chicago, La Catrina in El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego with Opera Omaha, and a return to the Queen of the Night with Florida Grand Opera. Opera News has praised her as a rare dramatic coloratura of impeccable technique. Born in Cuba, she holds a Master of Music from Florida International University and serves as adjunct voice professor at Miami Dade College.
Robert Koenig
Robert Koenig is widely considered one of today’s foremost collaborative pianists, with a career spanning more than three decades at venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Tokyo’s Suntory Hall, and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw.
He has collaborated with Joshua Bell, Hilary Hahn, Sarah Chang, Augustin Hadelich, and members of the Tokyo and Juilliard String Quartets, among many others, and holds a GRAMMY-nominated recording for Naxos. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, he serves as Professor and Head of Collaborative Piano at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Robert Koenig is an official Yamaha Artist.