Musical performances presented by Melisa Bonetti Luna + Opera Cultura

In collaboration with Opera Cultura and in celebration of Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month, mezzo-soprano Melisa Bonetti Luna and pianist Marika Yasuda will perform new compositions by thriving Latine Bay Area composers Héctor Armienta, Carla Lucero, and Nicolás Lell Benavides. All pieces performed will be contemporary Spanish-language opera and art song works.

About Melisa Bonetti Luna

Melisa Bonetti Luna, Dominican-American mezzo-soprano and current Opera San Jose resident artist, has performed as a soloist in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Kimmel Center. Her contemporary lead performances include Zorro (Opera San Jose), Ainadamar (Lexington Philharmonic), An American Dream (Virginia Opera), Three Way (premiere and Grammy-nominated recording; Nashville Opera), Carmen (adaptation; Hogfish festival), West Side Story (Brott Music Festival), Granados Tonadillas (Naxos recording), Paraíso (premiere; National Sawdust), and Climate Opera Project (premiere; BAM).

About Opera Cultura

Opera Cultura’s mission is to give voice to the Latino/x/a/e community through opera, while providing opportunities for the San José community to participate as creators, learners, and performers. Opera Cultura accomplishes this by presenting the work of composer Héctor Armienta and other Hispanic composers, showcasing exceptional artists, and training young people in the performing arts. By doing so, we create a cultural bridge between communities.

Japanese-American pianist and vocal coach Marika Yasuda is a graduate of the Adler Fellowship Program at San Francisco Opera, and a doctoral candidate at Indiana University. Recent performances include onstage pianist in L’Elisir D’Amore at San Francisco Opera, and music staff for mainstage productions of El último sueño de Frida y Diego, La Traviata, and Dream of the Red Chamber. This season, Marika returns to the San Francisco Opera for The Handmaid’s Tale.