Plena Libre

“A mad weave of polyrhythms that simply sizzle.” – The Boston Herald

Spend an evening with the four-time Grammy award-winning virtuoso musicians of Plena Libre – first in an intimate and entertaining introduction to Plena and Bomba exclusively from the Teatro Esperanza archives – then, experience Plena Libre in full regalia with selections from their recent high-octane live performance from Puerto Rico.

Plena and Bomba are distinctive musical styles of Puerto Rico. Bandleader Gary Nuñez and his orchestra combine a hard-hitting horn section, master hand drummers, and lush three-part vocal harmonies into a modern blend, mixing traditional Puerto Rican rhythms with modern Afro-Caribbean influences, and folkloric musical roots with contemporary compositions.

They’ve toured the world from Morocco to California and everywhere in between, and recorded with some of the biggest names in Latin music, like Eddie Palmieri, Papo Lucca, and Nestor Torres, reviving the once-dormant plena sound for a new generation, electrifying audiences with a dazzling spectacle of horns, drums, and dance.

JUST ADDED!
Special Bonus Feature

Bodas de Sangre
Teatro Quarantine

Stay tuned at the end of Plena Libre’s presentation for a special bonus feature by Teatro Quarantine – the first episode of Frederico Garcia Lorca’s Bodas de Sangre!

Teatro Quarantine presents Lorca’s seminal work for the stage as you’ve never experienced it – produced virtually with actors and sets in remote locations. In the face of the current lockdown, necessity has again become the mother of invention and innovation as every actor has become their own costume designer, set designer, lighting designer, technical director, and crew member. The result? A gathering of incredible artists to create a unique fully virtual production of Bodas de Sangre! Bilingual, online and full of DUENDE!

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VIRTUAL LATINO ARTS FESTIVAL 

Esperanza Arts Center presents our first annual Virtual Latino Arts Festival, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with streamed performances by Latino artists and traditions from around the world.