Gabriela Lena Frank; Antonio Estévez - Conquest Requiem; Cantata Criolla (Giancarlo Guerrero)

Information

Composer: Gabriela Lena Frank; Antonio Estévez

• Frank - Conquest Requiem
• Estévez - Cantata Criolla "Florentino, et que cantó con el Diablo"

Jessica Rivera; Andrew Garland

Aquiles Machado; Juan Tomás Martínez Yépez

Alcides Rodriguez; Daniel Binelli

Nashville Symphony Chorus & Orchestra

Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor

Date: 2025

Label: Naxos

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Gabriela Lena Frank’s Conquest Requiem explores colonization, identity, and survival through the story of Malinche, a Nahua woman given to the Spaniards as a young slave. Blending Western liturgical forms, indigenous Nahua poetry, and Latin musical influences, the work confronts the enduring impact of historical violence on contemporary life. In contrast, Antonio Estévez’s Cantata Criolla, one of Latin America’s most celebrated 20th-century choral works, remains his best-known composition, beloved for its vibrant rhythms and expressive power. Together, these works highlight the rich diversity and emotional depth of Latin American choral music.

Giancarlo Guerrero (b. 1969) is a Nicaraguan-born conductor based in North America, noted for his work with major orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, National Symphony, and San Francisco Symphony, as well as ensembles across Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. He concluded his sixteen-year tenure as music director of the Nashville Symphony in 2024/25, leaving a legacy of 21 recordings, 13 GRAMMY nominations, and six GRAMMY Awards. Guerrero also serves as music director of the Sarasota Orchestra from 2025/26. Formerly music director of the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic and Eugene Symphony, he has held prominent guest and associate posts. He studied percussion and conducting at Baylor University and earned a Master’s in conducting from Northwestern University.