By Ivan Gomez
Cleveland — Les Délices continues its Metamorphosis 2025–26 concert series with La Diosa, scheduled for late February and early March 2026. The program weaves together mysticism, folklore, and a strong feminine energy to celebrate the musical traditions that flourished in Latin American missions and cathedrals during the colonial period. The concert also features the world premiere of Soy la Diosa, a new work by Nicaraguan-American composer Gilda Lyons.
The ensemble will present two live performances: on February 28 at the Heights Theater in Cleveland Heights and on March 1 at Inlet Dance Studios at the Pivot Center in Cleveland. A recording of the concert will be available on Les Délices’ VHX platform from April 1 to April 30, 2026. Tickets for the in-person performances are already on sale on the ensemble’s website, and access to the online broadcast will be available through VHX. A free community event offering a preview of the program will take place on February 26; the venue and further details will be announced soon.
GRAMMY Award–winning soprano Estelí Gomez will appear as the featured soloist. She will perform alongside an ensemble of period-instrument specialists including Debra Nagy (artistic director and oboist), baroque violinists Shelby Yamin and María Romero, viola da gamba specialist Rebecca Landell, harpsichordist Mark Edwards, and baroque guitarist Héctor Alfonso Torres.
The concert opens with the exultant cantata Afectos Amantes by José de Torres, a work rich in expressive vocal lines and harmonies that evoke the divine presence both on earth and in the heavens. The program also includes vocal and instrumental works preserved in Bolivian and Peruvian manuscripts—repertoires shaped by Indigenous, African, and European influences, notable for their vitality, rhythmic complexity, and expressive contrasts. A central element of the concert is Soy la Diosa, commissioned from Lyons and written in four movements for soprano and historical instruments. The work bridges past and present by invoking the Maya deity Ix Chel—associated with the moon, fertility, weaving, and childbirth—referencing Nicaraguan legends such as the Guardian of Mombacho, and celebrating the enduring presence of feminine divinity in everyday life.
La Diosa is the second installment of The Mythology Project, Les Délices’ multi-year initiative to commission new works. The project launched in February 2025 with the world premiere of A Moment’s Oblivion, featuring GRAMMY-winning tenor Nicholas Phan. According to artistic director Debra Nagy, commissioning new music presents an essential opportunity to expand the classical canon and share stories that reach beyond the Western tradition. She notes that the combination of music and mythology continues to inspire listeners and foster universal understanding.
For this new work, Lyons drew from Nicaraguan folklore and Maya spirituality—elements tied both to her own heritage and to that of Estelí Gomez. Early in the collaboration, Gomez expressed her desire for the piece to reflect her roots and embody an empowered female perspective. However, as Lyons researched Latin American and specifically Nicaraguan myths, she found that many narratives portrayed women as victims of violence or betrayal. In response, she developed a bilingual libretto—predominantly in Spanish, with a significant portion in English—centered on ritualistic imagery such as weaving, shaping clay, and healing waters, along with protective and creative female figures. Both the text and music aim to convey warmth and emotional resonance, and the artistic team expects the work to leave a strong impact on audiences.
Acclaimed for her versatility, soprano Estelí Gomez is considered the ideal performer for the expressive and technical demands of this program. Her voice—described by The New York Times as “clear and bright”—shines equally in baroque and contemporary repertoire. A founding member of the GRAMMY-winning vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth, Gomez has premiered numerous works and is known for her ability to move seamlessly between musical styles. Nagy emphasizes that the singer possesses a magnetic stage presence and is deeply committed to this project, which she perceives as both intimate and universal.
Event Details
La Diosa
Featuring acclaimed soprano Estelí Gomez in Latin American music of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Live Performances
Saturday, February 28, 2026 – 4:00 pm
Pre-concert talk: 3:30 pm
The Heights Theater
2781 Euclid Heights Blvd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44106
Sunday, March 1, 2026 – 7:30 pm
Pre-concert talk: 6:45 pm
Inlet Dance Theater, Pivot Center
2937 W 25th St, Cleveland, OH 44113
A recording of the concert will be available online April 1–30, 2026 through Les Délices’ VHX platform for $20.
