Hostos Center Presents An Evening Of Cuban Boleros And More
By: Julie Musbach Mar. 19, 2019
Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture presents "An Evening of Cuban Boleros" - with the Cuban-born singer Malena Burke, the daughter of legendary Cuban songstress Elena Burke, who is joined by her own daughter, the Latin GRAMMY Award-winning pianist / vocalist / composer Lena Burke, on Saturday, March 30 at 7:30 PM in the Repertory Theater, 450 Grand Concourse in the Bronx
Tickets are $25, with student tickets at $5, and can be purchased online at www.hostoscenter.org or by calling (718) 518-4455. The box office is open Monday to Friday, 1 PM to 4 PM and will be open two hours prior to performance.
After making a cameo appearance last year on her daughter's program at Hostos Center, Malena Burke is appearing in the title role by popular demand. Born in 1958 in Havana, Burke began her musical studies at various art schools when she was only eight years old and graduated from the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory with diplomas in violin, guitar, and musical writing.
Malena Burke received her initial proposal to perform at the anniversary of the Casino Parisien, at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Havana's most distinguished hotel. She accepted and performed for the first time together with her mother, the legendary singer Elena Burke. The following year, she was selected to perform as headliner at the Tropicana Club, where she continued as principal performer for five years. Burke proceeded to perform at the most acclaimed nightclubs in Havana, including the Hotel Habana Riviera, Havana Hilton and Capri showrooms. With her success also came demands for tours including: Perú, Panama, Germany, Austria, Italy, Finland, Netherlands, and Venezuela. In 1995, Malena Burke settled in the United States. Her many recordings include: Salseando, Cuba on Fire, Malena Burke, Super Cuban All Stars, Bolero Jazz: Misty, A Solas Contigo, Contigo en la Distancia, and Malena Total.
Born in 1978 in Havana, Lena Burke is a pianist, singer and songwriter and is the daughter of Malena Burke, and granddaughter of the late Elena Burke -- heralded Cuban singers known for their Boleros. Burke's first songs were written at age three, followed by guitar classes at age five by her father (Rey Nerio), and classical piano at age seven. After 12 years of studio recording, Burke became a concert pianist, winning several prizes. Burke started her musical career singing backing vocals on albums by Gloria Estefan, Julio Iglesias, Jennifer López, Thalía, Jaci Velásquez, Chayanne and Alejandro Sanz. Her debut single, "Tu Corazón," a duet with Sanz, received a Latin Grammy nomination for "Song of the Year." Based now in Miami, Lena received a Latin Grammy Award in 2011 under the category -- Best Pop Vocal Album Duo or Group" -- for the musical production: Alex, Jorge y Lena (Alex Ubago and Jorge Villamizar).
Her distinctive performance and singing style landed her the leading role in the movie La Mala, a film dedicated to the memory of the internationally renowned Cuban-born artist, La Lupe. Lena Burke received international honors for her performance, including the acclaimed award "Maltese Falcon," the Audience Award for Best Actress at the International Film Festival of Ibiza, and "Best Female Performer Award," at the XXIX Mostra of Valencia, Spain in 2008. She co-produced the movie soundtrack, which includes many of the songs made famous by the singer, with her father the music producer Rey Nerio.
About the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture
Founded in 1982, The Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture, based at Hostos Community College of the City University of New York, serves the cultural needs of residents of the South Bronx and similar inner-city communities who do not have the means or inclination to attend arts events in mid-town Manhattan. The Center, which includes a 900-seat theater, a 367-seat theater, and museum-grade art gallery, creates forums in which the cultural heritages of its audiences are affirmed and nurtured. The Center's programming consists of a performing arts presenting series; a visual arts exhibiting series; periodic festivals promoting cultural traditions, especially Afro-Caribbean; The Hostos Repertory Company; and an individual artists' program with commissions and residencies. Nearly 60,000 partake in the Center's programs each year.
About Hostos Community College
Eugenio María de Hostos Community College is an educational agent for change that has been transforming and improving the quality of life in the South Bronx and neighboring communities for nearly half a century. Since 1968, Hostos has been a gateway to intellectual growth and socioeconomic mobility, as well as a point of departure for lifelong learning, success in professional careers, and transfer to advanced higher education programs. Hostos offers 27 associate degree programs and two certificate programs that facilitate easy transfer to The City University of New York's (CUNY) four-year colleges or baccalaureate studies at other institutions. The College has an award-winning Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development that offers professional development courses and certificate-bearing workforce training programs. Hostos is part of CUNY, the nation's leading urban public university, which serves more than 500,000 students at 24 colleges. https://www.hostos.cuny.edu/
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