Códex Zuola - Lope de Vega: Entres dos álamos verdes

Jonatan Alvarado, tenor and baroque guitar

"Guest artist and Buenos Aires native Alvarado, a specialist in South American music of this period, closed the first half singing the concert’s title work Entre dos álamos verdes (Between two green poplars), a retelling of Lope de Vega’s poem. (...) It was arranged by Alvarado, who accompanied himself on the guitar.

He sang this aching lament of separation and longing to a rapt audience with quiet intensity, a lifetime of artistry distilled into this extended tenor solo. It’s a rare artist who can so completely change the mood and transfix listeners, and it was a bold, inspired stroke of programming to afford him the time and space to do just that. The song ends as “nightingales replied in singing,” but Alvarado spoke the final verse, a magical moment that seemed to echo forever. Fervent applause seemed almost too small a tribute for such intimacy and magisterial artistry."

Gail Obenreder, for Broad Street Review

Recorded live at Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, on May 19th 2023.
An excerpt of Piffaro's program "Entre dos álamos", conceived and directed by Priscilla Herreid.

Sharon Torello, video
John Baker, audio