Aviva

Produced in the world's most culturally diverse city, Songs For Carmen features some of the hottest up-and-coming world music musicians in New York, including Victor Prieto (Victor Prieto Trio) on accordion, Harel Shachal (Anistar, Cardamon Quartet, The Seam Line) on Turkish Clarinet, Dan Nadel (Sarah Aroeste, Chico Freeman) on flamenco guitar, and Satoshi Takeishi (Eddie Gomez, Nestor Torres) on drums and percussion.

Songs for Carmen will be the first release by the young opera singer, who has performed at New York City Opera and was the winner of both the George London Award and the Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation award.

Songs For Carmen is inspired by George Bizet’s internationally acclaimed opera, Carmen. Many scholars believe the tale of this famous Gypsy was derived from the legend of the Petenera, a Jewish temptress who, because of her seductive power, was reported to be the “damnation of men.” These and other folklore have their origins in southern Spain at a time when the cultural and artistic alliances of Jewish and Muslim communities flourished. The language on this album is Ladino — an ancient form of Spanish spoken by the Jews of the region and nearly decimated after the expulsion of the Jews and Muslims in 1492. No Jews or Muslims were harmed in the making of this album.

"This CD is absolutely beautiful. I am a believer in continuing and re-interpreting these old songs in order to adapt it for modern ears. You are really telling these stories in a new, open way - not many people can arrange like this - I love it!"
- Flory Jagoda

Learn more about Aviva at her site