Laura León with Ken Noda

Soprano and piano come together in an evening celebrating the traditions of Spanish vocal music, from operetta and zarzuela to art song.

Cuban soprano Laura León, praised for a voice that “sparkles, seduces and languishes,” has emerged as a rising talent known for her expressive range and exceptional coloratura technique. A former resident artist with Florida Grand Opera, she has performed leading roles such as Norina in Don Pasquale and the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte, and recently appeared with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Her first-place win in the Zarzuela de las Americas Competition makes her especially well-suited to this program of Spanish repertoire.

Acclaimed pianist Ken Noda, who performed with the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics before the age of 20, brings a wealth of experience as Musical Advisor to the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. A student of Daniel Barenboim, Noda has played under conductors including Abbado, Levine, Mehta and Ozawa, and has collaborated with renowned artists such as Itzhak Perlman and Jessye Norman.

Laura León with Ken Noda takes place Friday, October 24 at the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center. The concert is presented by Friends of Chamber Music of Miami in partnership with the FIU Wertheim School of Music as the opening event of the 2025 FIU Music Festival.