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Latin 2 Piano concert presented by Dranoff 2 Piano Fusion and Dade County Auditorium features Timeless classics by legendary Latin songwriters.
On Sunday, March 1, 4 p.m., at Pinecrest Gardens on 11000 Red Road, Dranoff 2 Piano Fusion presents the year’s Latin 2 Piano concert headlined by New York-based Venezuelan pianists Vanessa Perez and Kristhyan Benítez who will perform innovative arrangements of timeless music by legendary Latin composers brimming with nostalgia.
“A Fuego Lento” is presented in partnership with Miami Dade County Auditorium, which continues its programming with the Away from Home Series during renovations.
This concert is a North American premiere featuring songs like “Gracias a la vida,”(Thanks for life) by Chilean composer Violeta Parra, “Moliendo café” (Grinding coffee) by Venezuelan composer Hugo Blanco, “Besame Mama,” (Kiss Me Mama) by American Latin jazz band leader Poncho Sanchez, “Hasta que te conocí” (Until I met you) by Mexican composer Juan Gabriel and “A fuego lento” (A slow burning fire) by Argentinian composer Horacio Salgan.
The famous “Danzon no. 2” by Arturo Márquez is just one of the classical pieces in the program.
“It’s unimaginable that this program had its world premiere almost three years ago in Romania but has yet to play in the Americas,” said Dranoff 2 Piano Fusion Executive Director Emily Cardenas. “We are thrilled to bring this show to Miami where it was meant to be and with the eyes of the world on Venezuela, there is no better time to experience the heartbeat of Latin America through its music.”
The show “A Fuego Lento” was born out of Vanessa Perez’s mission to stage Latin American music with different ensembles and collaborations. Together with her husband and artistic partner Stephen Buck, they have embarked on different journeys to include Latin American works from the classical genre and beyond, including mariachi, boleros, salsa and more.
Their programs are inspired by the richness, diversity and political history of the American continents, and the common human themes that knit them together.
“Sometimes there is the mistaken notion that Latin culture is monolithic, when in reality it encompasses immense diversity,” Perez said. “From Mexico to Chile, from mariachi to tango, and everything in between, there is a vast and fascinating universe to discover.”
Now in collaboration with Latin Grammy-winning pianist Kristhyan Benitez, Perez and Buck fuse the virtuosic and expressive tradition of classical piano with the artistry and reach of popular and folk styles to bring us “A Fuego Lento.”
“This program lives between the classical and the popular, between the concert hall and the colors of our culture,” said Benitez. “‘A Fuego Lento’ allows us to honor Latin American music not as a genre, but as a living language: rich, nostalgic, virtuosic, and deeply human.”
Benítez received the Latin Grammy Award for Best Classical Album in 2021 with “Latin American Classics” and later earned another nomination in 2023 for “Afro-Cuban Dances.” Having performed in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, the pianist and composer has captivated audiences globally with his dynamic and versatile performances, seamlessly blending classical and Latin American repertoire with depth, passion and charisma.
Perez is a Yale University graduate whose professional highlights range from symphonic concerts in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Spain to touring Central America with the Orchestra of the Americas under Carlos Miguel Prieto and Jean Philippe Tremblay. She has played with symphony orchestras in the U.S. from Miami to Minnesota and Vermont and in solo recitals from Manhattan to San Diego. Perez has performed as a soloist in Spain, France, Germany and England.
Tickets range from $45-$65 and are available online at www.Dranoff2Piano.org. Students with ID may purchase $5 tickets at the door.
Dranoff 2 Piano Fusion creates community by fusing two piano repertoire with music of many genres and cultures through concerts, collaborations, and education.
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