august, 2023
Inaugural Millennium Park Residency: Somos un Solo Pueblo
Event Details
Chicago Philharmonic
Puerto Rican Arts Alliance
Latin Music Project Ensemble
Cuerdas Clásicas
AfriCaribe
Roselin Pabón Conductor
Sergio Mario Paredes Cardenas Conductor & Composer
Christian Nieves Famed Cuatrista
Chicago Philharmonic in partnership with the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, Cuerdas Clásicas, and AfriCaribe to present Somos un Solo Pueblo, Mexico y Puerto Rico, on August 26, 2023 as part of the inaugural Millennium Park Residency Program.
The one-of-a-kind symphonic concert honors and celebrates Chicago’s vibrant and diverse Puerto Rican and Mexican communities with the full Chicago Philharmonic and guests on the iconic Chicago Jay Pritzker Pavilion stage.
Emeritus Puerto Rico Symphony Conductor Roselin Pabón from San Juan, Puerto Rico and Symphony Conductor & Composer Sergio Mario Paredes Cardenas from Cd. Victoria, Mexico will present a cross-culture repertoire including popular Puerto Rican songs like Preciosa, plus Bomba and Plena music. Famed Cuatrista Christian Nieves joins the orchestra to perform a new symphonic arrangement of Despacito, which Nieves originally performed with famed Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi.
Chicago groups Latin Music Project Ensemble, Cuerdas Clásicas and AfriCaribe will join in the celebration onstage with guest artists from Mexico and Puerto Rico.
We also invite our audience to stay tuned for other advance “pop-up” music presentations that will soon be schedule in the Millennium Park grounds.
About Roselin Pabón
Photo from PRAA’s first collaboration with Chicago Philharmonic in 2021 for our concert San Juan to Chicago.
Music Director Emeritus of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra in San Juan, Roselín Pabón has distinguished himself as one of the most versatile conductors in the Caribbean and Latin America. For more than three decades, Pabón acted as Associate Music Director of the Symphony Orchestra in San Juan, and has been very important in the orchestra’s development and artistic growth.
About Christian Nieves
Christian Nieves is a Puerto Rican cuatro player who was born in San Juan. He learned to play the cuatro from his father and grandfather at a young age and went on to participate in competitions all over Puerto Rico, eventually becoming known as one of the most talented young cuatro players in the country. Christian has performed all over the world, including with his own group, Harbor Estate, and with well-known artists such as Ricky Martin and Juan Luis Guerra. He is known for his skillful and innovative use of the Puerto Rican cuatro and seeks to promote Puerto Rican music and culture through his work.
This program is made possible by a grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events with funding from the Millennium Park Foundation and the Pritzker Foundation.