For nearly the past decade, Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez has widened the scope of musical styles performed by the vocal chamber ensemble Musica Viva NY, where he serves as artistic director. In addition to performing the rich variety of classical Western music, the choir has commissioned new works and included more music by women, composers of color, and living American composers for its programs. This fall, Musica Viva is teaming up with the organization Mexamorphosis for a multicultural music program Oct. 29 called Mexa featuring musicians and styles from around the world. Hernandez-Valdez and Mexamorphosis founder and artistic director Guadalupe Peraza share not only their Mexican-American roots, but also a passion for exploring both the diversity of world musical traditions and what they share, including how they have influenced each other over time.
A Tempo host Rachel Katz this week speaks with Hernandez-Valdez and Peraza about this upcoming program, as well as their ongoing efforts to discover and share the rich variety and connections among across musical traditions around the world.