Olga Iglesias Project Announces the Commission of La Batalla de los Clásicos, a New Opera by Johanny Navarro and Paloma Sierra

San Juan, Puerto Rico – The Olga Iglesias Project (OIP) is proud to announce the commissioning of La Batalla de los Clásicos, an original opera composed by Johanny Navarro with a libretto by Paloma Sierra. This exciting new work will receive its world premiere in Fall 2024 in Puerto Rico, bringing a fresh and dynamic perspective to the country’s rich classical music heritage.

La Batalla de los Clásicos is a 20-minute opera for piano and four voices, designed to introduce audiences to Puerto Rico’s most influential 19th-century classical composers—Juan Morel Campos, Manuel Gregorio Tavárez, and Felipe Gutiérrez Espinosa—through an engaging, interactive format. The work will feature a unique musical duel where the audience plays a crucial role in determining the winner of La Batalla de los Clásicos.

Anthony Cheney Guzmán, Founder and Executive Director of OIP, stated, “This commission is a testament to our commitment to celebrating and expanding Puerto Rico’s operatic tradition. With La Batalla de los Clásicos, we aim to create an engaging and educational experience that showcases the brilliance of our classical composers while making opera more accessible to younger generations.”

As part of the commission, OIP will host workshops, rehearsals, and educational initiatives leading up to the premiere. These efforts will include a *libretto reading workshop in the spring and a piano-vocal workshop in late summer. The opera’s world premiere will take place in an educational setting in the fall, ensuring that students are at the center of this historic moment for Puerto Rican opera.

The commissioning and premiere of La Batalla de los Clásicos align with OIP’s mission to preserve, celebrate, and expand Puerto Rico’s classical music legacy through innovative educational and artistic programming.