On Discovery of Puerto Rico Day – join us for an evening of music as Puerto Rican mezzo-soprano Laura Virella and Russian-Mexican pianist Alla Milchtein present Al Menos Cantos. Released by Lexicon Classics, the album is the first commercial studio recording devoted to the art songs of Jack Délano, a composer and photographer who made Puerto Rico his home. His music brings together Eastern European and Caribbean influences in intimate settings of Spanish-language poetry.
Exploring memory, identity, and the human spirit, this program celebrates Puerto Rican song, poetry, and the power of music to preserve stories and bring awareness to a very talented composer and photographer. Born Yakov Ovcharov in 1914 in Voroshylivka, then part of the Russian Empire and now in Ukraine, Délano immigrated to the United States with his family in 1923 and settled permanently in Puerto Rico in 1946. There, Délano and his wife Irene contributed to the filmmaking work of the Department of Public Education’s Community Education Division. Délano composed scores for many of its films and directed Los Peloteros, a story about rural children and their love of baseball that became a classic of Puerto Rican cinema.Jack Délano’s legacy lies in his remarkable contribution to American cultural life, using photography, film, and music to document everyday people, preserve Puerto Rican culture, and capture the human experience with artistic depth and social purpose.
Puerto Rican mezzo-soprano Laura Virella is a compelling musical storyteller whose international performances include appearances at Carnegie Hall, Long Beach Opera, and Wolf Trap Opera. Since 2016, she has championed Puerto Rican art song, bringing overlooked music and poetry to new audiences through thoughtfully curated recitals. Al Menos Cantos, her debut album, reflects her dedication to preserving and sharing Puerto Rico’s cultural heritage.
Born in Russia and raised in Mexico, Alla Milchtein is a New York–based collaborative pianist who performs with singers, instrumentalists, and chamber ensembles. She brings that cross-cultural perspective to her collaboration with Virella, illuminating the musical traditions that meet in Délano’s songs.
Production:
Natalie Burlutskaya is a producer, curator, and artist manager, the founder of RE:ARTISTE International Art Organization and Spotlight Artists. She curated and produced an array of art projects – from visual art exhibitions to interdisciplinary performances – bringing together expertise in arts administration, marketing, and public relations. Her work spans music, theater, and visual art, with projects including a production at Carnegie Hall, collaborations with the theater project Daughters of Troy, and concerts celebrating cultural heritage and immigrant artists. Through her productions and artist advocacy, she creates opportunities for artists to connect with audiences and share their stories across disciplines and cultures.
