Fénix De Los Ingenios is an early music ensemble devoted to the performance of Hispanic and Latin American music and literature. Our principal mission is to offer U.S. audiences a better understanding of Hispanic American culture through our performances. One of the ensemble’s strongest commitments is with young audiences.
One of its first major projects was a commission to Latin American composer Gerardo Dirié to create a pocket opera for children, with new music, featuring period instruments. The project; two twenty-minute retablos, or miniatures, based on literature by Miguel De Cervantes, offering a multi-cultural experience for the local community. The pocket operas were a huge success with Bloomington’s young audiences with stand-only space during its 2007 premiere at the Waldron Arts Center, as part of the Waldron Performing Arts Series. Reviewed as “deliciously and outrageously hammed up” and “full of spunk and charm”, this production titled “The Puppeteer’s Strings” was offered in Spanish with English subtitles, stage direction and lights by Timothy Nelson, and conducted by Cinthia Alireti. This project and commission were made possible by support from the Program for Cultural Cooperation Between the Ministry of Culture of Spain and United States’ Universities and from Early Music In Motion Inc.
Our second program for young audiences premiered in November of 2009 at the Indianapolis Art Museum. A small narrated musical performance of the discovery of America by Christopher Colombus and the Catholic Monarchs, this performance is meant to illustrate to young audiences music of the Spanish courts during Colombus’ voyages, and what would have the been the first European influence of music and instruments to the Spanish dominions of the New World. This project is an educational activity in conjunction with the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s exhibition “Sacred Spain”, and is possible through the support of IMA.
If you are interested in either program for your organization or school please contact education@fenixdelosingenios.com for specifications and costs.
