FIU Piano Recital Series: José López

A focused piano program highlights the depth and diversity of contemporary Cuban-American composition through works shaped by exile, experimentation and cultural continuity. Pianist José López centers the recital on composers whose music reflects a wide range of stylistic approaches while sharing a common lineage rooted in Cuban and diasporic experience.

The program features works by Aurelio de la Vega, Tania León, Orlando Jacinto García, Antonino Hernandez-Lizaso and Ivette Herryman, all recipients of the CINTAS Award in Music, alongside selected 19th-century repertoire and the premiere of two short works by Gaspar Villate. Together, the selections trace multiple generations of composers and compositional voices, balancing historical context with contemporary expression.

The evening also marks the centennial of Aurelio de la Vega, whose influence on Cuban-American music spans much of the 20th and early 21st centuries. Selections from different periods of his output offer insight into the evolution of his musical language and his lasting impact on modern composition.

FIU Piano Recital Series: José López takes place Saturday, March 7 at the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim School of Music & Performing Arts.