The celebrated musical and poetic collective brought its distinctive blend to New York City across two memorable performances, each echoing the intertwined strands of music, poetry, cinema, and visual art that define their work. The first engagement unfolded in the heart of Manhattan at La Nacional, a symbolic hub for the city’s Spanish-speaking community. There, on a Monday night, the troupe presented a multidisciplinary show that paid homage to the life and writings of poet Miguel Hernandez and his widow, Josefina Manresa. For five years, this project has toured across Spain and beyond, weaving together song, verse, cinema, and stagecraft to illuminate the poet’s enduring resonance. The performance offered a compact, powerful experience that married lyric intensity with sonic experimentation, inviting the audience to experience Hernandez’s themes through a contemporary lens that speaks to both memory and renewal. [Citation: La Nacional, Spanish Benevolent Association; project collaborators and historical context are referenced in program notes]
In this condensed New York rendition, the ensemble featured Raphael Lozano as conductor and composer, lending his direction to a sound that blends soprano saxophone timbres with a melodic richness typical of the group’s approach. Francisco Jorge Montesino contributed photographic imagery for the alto saxophone lines, while Marta Bascunana joined the stage with evocative drawings by Rafael Bascuñana, offering a visual counterpoint to the musical and poetic text. The result was a compact yet immersive interpretation that foregrounded Hernandez’s voice through contemporary arrangements, creating a dialogue between old Spanish literary heritage and present-day musical language. [Citation: program notes and artist credits from the New York engagement]
The second performance occurred on August 24 at Bowery Poetry Club, a venue known for its intimate atmosphere and its affinity for spoken word and musical experimentation. There, the ensemble offered a generous program featuring some of Miguel Hernandez’s most emblematic poems set to Lozano’s original compositions, while also introducing a new collection that reflects the ensemble’s ongoing creative arc. The evening culminated in a new album project titled Give Me Hope, a 17-song cycle that honors the poet’s legacy while expanding the emotional and sonic range of the group. This composition-heavy program showcased a seamless integration of text, melody, and rhythm, illustrating how Hernandez’s verses continue to inspire fresh musical interpretations. The event was organized by bi/Coa in collaboration with the Lux Aeterna Cultural Association in Orihuela, the Miguel Hernandez Cultural Foundation, and Alejandro Roemmers, the Ibero-American Head of Cultural and Creative Industries at Miguel Hernandez University of Elche in Alicante. The collaboration demonstrated a transnational commitment to keeping Hernandez’s work vibrant in contemporary culture. [Citation: Bowery Poetry Club event listing; organizational collaborators cited in program materials]