"Alba:Beyond Borders" - Album Release Event

Join us for a special evening celebrating the release of Alba: Beyond Borders, a deeply personal and groundbreaking album by acclaimed Venezuelan-American soprano María Brea and Israeli-American pianist Dror Baitel. This event will feature an intimate recital of works from the album, offering a unique opportunity to experience their cross-cultural musical journey live. Following the performance, you are invited to a special reception to celebrate the album's release. Don't miss this opportunity to mingle with María Brea and Dror Baitel, purchase your copy of Alba: Beyond Borders, and have it personally signed.

The concert is free, but please RSVP on this page.

Alba: Beyond Borders is more than just an album; it's a testament to the power of music to unite diverse cultures and histories. The title itself is a play on words: "Alba" means "dawn" in Spanish, symbolizing renewal and new beginnings, while the phrase "Beyond Borders" speaks to the project's core mission. The album traverses cultural, geographic, and emotional frontiers by bringing together the rich musical traditions of Latin America and the Jewish diaspora. It is a tribute to the historical connection between these two vibrant cultures, a relationship that dates back over 500 years.

Maria Brea and Dror Baitel first met in 2015 at The Juilliard School, forging a long-time collaboration and friendship that is the heart of this project. “Alba,” which means “dawn” in Spanish and serves as the album’s title track, evokes themes of renewal, awakening, and the quiet strength found in new beginnings. The subtitle, “Beyond Borders,” speaks to the core essence of the project: transcending cultural, geographic, and emotional frontiers through music that carries memory and meaning across time.

Each selection on the album holds a reason for its inclusion. From "Durme, Durme," a Sephardic lullaby reimagined by Venezuelan composer Miguel Astor and sung by Maria to her twins, to the poetic soul of Lazar Weiner's Yiddish art songs, the album weaves a rich tapestry of experiences. It includes a haunting piece in Portuguese by Mariel Mayz, a composer of Venezuelan-Greek-American and Jewish descent, and songs by Turkish-Sephardic composer Alberto Hemsi, which document Mediterranean Jewish life. The album also highlights Latina composers like Maria Grever (Mexico) and Maria Luisa Escobar (Venezuela), celebrating Venezuelan culture and womanhood. The exuberant Venezuelan folk song "La Negra Atilia," arranged by Maria's mentor, Jewish-Uruguayan pianist Pablo Zinger, honors tradition while celebrating freedom of expression.

This project is a musical journey across time and space, honoring voices from multiple heritages that have often lived side by side. Through Spanish, Ladino, Yiddish, Galego, and Portuguese, the songs explore universal themes of immigration, motherhood, faith, displacement, and the search for home — themes shared by Latin American and Jewish communities alike.

One of Venezuela’s most acclaimed opera singers, Maria Brea has captivated audiences at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Opera, and Palais Garnier. Praised for her “luxurious” and “versatile” voice (OperaWire), the Juilliard graduate has appeared with the Boston Philharmonic, Tucson Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, and United Nations Symphony, among others. A champion of new works with over 100 premieres, she is also the co-founder of Latina Women in Opera. Learn more at https://www.mariabreasoprano.com/.

Pianist Dror Baitel captivates audiences with his profound artistry and remarkable breadth. He was on the original music team for Hamilton and served as pianist-conductor for Dear Evan Hansen. Dror made his Carnegie Hall debut with Meghan Kasanders and his album Breaking Glass Ceilings debuted at #2 on the Billboard Traditional Classical Chart. Dror holds a D.M.A. and M.M. from The Juilliard School and is an Assistant Professor of the Practice and Music Director of Opera and Musical Theatre at the University of Notre Dame. Learn more at drorbaitel.com.

“Alba: Beyond Borders” will be available on all major streaming platforms and for purchase on September 26, 2025.