Recognized as one of the great Mexican composers of the 20th century, Manuel M. Ponce is the stare of the latest release from Urtext. In a quest to redefine the invaluable legacy of this great master in a systematic, musical elaboration of the jazz language, Abraham Barrera, Aaron Cruz and Saluador Merchand bring Ponce's music back to life. The chosen repertoire includes works for piano solo, a ballet, and a few songs. With very deliberate variations that allow a jazz musical discourse, while respecting the structures of the original works, where an interesting and enriched construction of meaning of the spirit of those times is carefully preserved. Ponce is recognized as the founder of Mexican nationalism.

Gilda Cruz-Romo is without a doubt the most significant soprano that Mexico has given to the world, with a brilliant career as a performer of the highest level in all major international stages, comprising more than thirty years of professional activity. Since her debut in 1962 at the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City, until her farewell recital in 1999, her magnificent spinto soprano voice, high volume and unmistakable timbre, her impeccable musicianship, her expressive capacity, histrionic ability and physical beauty, placed her in a prominent place among the singers of her time. In her repertoire of over forty operatic roles, Verdi’s roles always occupied a prominent place, and Ms. Cruz-Romo soon established herself as one of the leading exponents of Giuseppe Verdi of the nineteen seventies and eighties. Cruz-Romo was invited by all great opera houses in the world be them the Palais Garnier in Paris, La Fenice in Venice, the Colon in Buenos Aires or the Liceu in Barcelona, to give her voice to Elvira (Ernani), Odabella (Attila), Lady Macbeth (Macbeth), Luisa (Luisa Miller), Leonora (Il Trovatore), Violetta (La Traviata), Amelia (Un ballo in Maschera), Leonora di Vargas (La forza del Destino), Elisabetta (Don Carlo), Aida (Aida) and Deemona (Otello), and of course to sing the solos in Verdi’s Messa da Requiem. A true gem of a compilation of historical Live recordings.

Includes work(s) by various composers. Ensemble: El Cuarteto Latinoamericano. Soloists: Sarah Leonard, Saúl Bitrán, Arón Bitrán, Javier Montiel, Alvaro Bitrán.