Rosario Armas Unveils a Haunting Debut: “El Arno” from De La Chica's Arias Florentinas
Pre-order now El Arno, the new single from Mexican mezzo—soprano Rosario Armas. This single is part of Armas' debut studio album, set to be released and published by IGM on November 1st, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The album features the premiere recordings of two song cycles composed by award-winning composer and visual artist Julián De La Chica: Arias Florentinas, Op. 15, and Canciones de la Muerte, Op. 20, the latter composed and dedicated to Armas. Joined by the extraordinary pianist Ahmed Alom, Armas takes listeners on a haunting journey through themes of drama, death, and unrequited love. The single will be available on September 6th.
Canciones de la Muerte, Op. 20:
This new commission is based on texts by Fr. António da Ascenção and was composed after De La Chica visited Évora, in southern Portugal, during the summer of 2023. There, in a chapel known as the Chapel of Bones, built with human remains, these verses were found inscribed on one of its pillars. Additionally, at the entrance, it says: “Nos ossos que aqui estamos, pelos vossos esperamos.” It translates to “We bones that are here, await yours.” This inscription serves as a reminder of mortality and the transient nature of life. De La Chica, deeply moved by the story and the verses, decided to transform these verses into songs.
About Rosario Armas:
New York—based Mexican mezzo-soprano Rosario Armas has garnered recognition for her remarkable portrayals in opera productions. Her notable roles include Suora Zelatrice in "Suor Angelica," Cherubino in W. Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro," Angelina in Rossini's "La Cenerentola," Dorabella in Mozart's "Così fan Tutte," Juana in Carla Lucero's "La Opera Juana," and Suzuki in "Madame Butterfly." In the upcoming season, she eagerly anticipates her performance as Carmen in "La Tragedie de Carmen."
Rosario Armas
Photo by Julián De La Chica
Renowned for her profound voice, musicality, and fluency in Spanish, English, and Italian, Rosario has received various scholarships and awards. She was honored with the prestigious Judith Raskin Scholarship from 2018 to 2022 and the International Advisory Board Scholarship from 2021 to 2022. In recognition of her talent, she was also awarded the "Encouragement Award" at the District MONC auditions in 2020 and 2021. Additionally, she achieved third place in the Joan Taub Ades Competition.