The talent and tradition of opera in Puerto Rico have been evident for centuries—one need only think of our legendary Antonio Paoli—but the continuity of this cultural expression appears fragile, and without attention, it risks dwindling. One contributing factor could be that our popular music is undeniably very appealing, attracting attention to the point of dominating the global scene. However, despite this, a new generation of young island opera singers is currently emerging, eager to succeed and seeking to establish themselves locally, but with their sights set on the international stage.
For these artists, the first years of their careers are extremely difficult after graduating from educational institutions, such as the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music , due to a lack of exposure and contacts within a musical world that extends far beyond our shores. There are few individuals or institutions with the vision and resources to support them.
With this in mind, the Olga Iglesias Project was founded , a non-profit organization created in 2020 by Anthony Cheney Guzmán , grandson of the late Puerto Rican soprano who shone with her voice in the 1960s and 1970s and who performed on the most important stages in the world.
Since its founding, this organization has had the mission of advancing the Puerto Rican legacy in classical music through education, digital media, and artist sponsorship , where people can watch videos of Iglesias's story and others related to opera singing.
In its three years of existence, the Olga Iglesias Project has already awarded scholarships to three Puerto Rican singers: tenor Jehú Otero and sopranos Shelzie Ramos and Lucila Zavala . As scholarship recipients, the three received individual vocal training, one-on-one mentoring sessions, opportunities for live performances, and financial support.
Zarzuela Night
Recently, as part of a commitment to promoting music education, a “Zarzuela Night” was held at Casa de España in Old San Juan, where Otero, Ramos, and Zavala, along with guest tenor Christian García and pianist Ernesto Busigó , took the audience on a journey through the songs of this Iberian genre. The event was attended by the Consul General of Spain, Josep María Bosch Bessa. “The beauty of this performance lies in its connection between Puerto Rican and Spanish culture, highlighting what Pablo Casals brought to Puerto Rico from Spain and what my grandmother accomplished alongside him ,” noted Cheney Guzmán.
During the evening, those present were able to feel and hear the prodigious voices of these young people, who range in age from 23 to 32, as they performed songs such as "La verbena de la paloma", "Yo quiero un hombre", "De España vengo" and "Granada", among others.
In addition to their performances, these singers also participate in the foundation's educational outreach, giving talks and presentations in various communities throughout Puerto Rico. “The Olga Iglesias Project provides us with work, but it also allows us to educate the next generation of young people, to instruct them in music. This is truly a cultural endeavor with a mission to communicate and deliver a positive message through the arts ,” explained Lucila Zavala, a graduate of the Free School of Music in San Juan and the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, as are the other three opera singers. “We like to have all kinds of audiences come, so we go to communities and enjoy bringing music to children and adults, to everyone.”
For tenor Christian García, who, despite not receiving a scholarship from the foundation, participates as a community musician and also gives educational talks, these types of workshops are necessary and important. “This organization is doing essential work for the development of music on the island because, in addition to giving us the opportunity to communicate and connect with the public, the repertoire we perform is entirely Puerto Rican ,” added García, who recently participated in the zarzuela “La corte del faraón” (The Pharaoh’s Court). “Furthermore, there is currently a significant gap in the community and among young people regarding classical music and opera, and this is a great opportunity to fill that gap and create interest in these new generations.”
Benefits for scholarship recipients
Another direct benefit that the Olga Iglesias Project provides to the young singers who have received scholarships so far is private lessons with the respected singing teacher Jason Ferrante , as well as professional advice from Puerto Rican Ana de Archuleta , chief executive officer of the operatic talent agency ADA.
“The fact that we are all young singers and that everyone here is a graduate of the Conservatory of Music means that having connections within the music industry is very important for our growth ,” said Shelzie Ramos, who has received a scholarship from the Olga Iglesias Project for two consecutive years. “This organization has connected us with the music scene in this career, and it's already showing in the jobs, festivals, and competitions we have participated in or will participate in in the coming months.”
In the case of Jehu Otero, he was recently hired as an artist-in-residence at Utah Opera, where he will participate in the opera "Rigoletto," singing the role of Borsa, and later in another opera called "The Steve Jobs Revolution." "Receiving lessons and recommendations from Jason Ferrante, a renowned teacher in the United States who teaches in many places, has helped me tremendously ," the tenor explained. "Furthermore, working with Ana de Archuleta is something not many have access to, because she knows how and with whom we should network and what level we need to be singing at to get the opportunities that are truly essential in opera."
In the coming months, the Olga Iglesias Project will bring its "Educational Recital" workshop to communities such as the Luis Llorens Torres Housing Project, as well as to several of the free music schools on the island, including those in Caguas, San Juan, and Humacao.
How the foundation came about
Cheney Guzmán was born in Puerto Rico, but moved with her family to South Florida when she was very young. Growing up, she spent time at the home of her grandmother, Olga Iglesias, who had also moved to the United States after retiring from her position as a professor at the Conservatory of Music. Despite having a close relationship with her grandmother, Cheney Guzmán, like much of her family, was unaware that Iglesias had stored away over 3,000 objects related to the period when she became one of Pablo Casals's favorite singers.
For this reason, at the time of her passing, it was not only a surprise for everyone to find all this memorabilia, but they also realized they had to share Iglesias's legacy. “I knew about her career, and I knew Pablo Casals and Doña Marta Casals, with whom I still keep in touch and whom I consider almost like a great-aunt,” explained the foundation's executive director. “When my grandmother passed away, Doña Marta told me we had to do something about her. Those words planted a seed in me, and I understood that I could carry a powerful message to the country and perpetuate my grandmother's legacy . ”
Who was Olga Iglesias?
Known as the soprano who sang most frequently in Pablo Casals' masterpiece, "El Pessebre," and also as an interpreter of his art songs, Olga Iglesias was born on March 22, 1929, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She was the youngest of eight children of Rafael Iglesias Normandín and María Victoria Antoni Rodríguez. She was exposed to music through her older siblings, who played the piano and violin. Demonstrating a talent for singing at an early age, at 14 she began studying with the renowned Puerto Rican tenor Antonio Paoli while still attending Central High School in Santurce, Puerto Rico. On May 4, 1947, Olga Iglesias made her public debut at La Fortaleza during the first annual edition of "Music Week."
After completing musical studies in Philadelphia and New York, thanks to a scholarship from the Puerto Rican government, Iglesias returned to the island to begin her musical career in earnest. Starting in 1960, she began conducting Pablo Casals's oratorio of peace, "El Pessebre," around the world. In addition to singing, Iglesias was a member of the inaugural class of 1964 at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music and, after completing her postgraduate studies there, became a professor and eventually head of the Voice Department in the mid-1970s. This soprano passed away on May 26, 2013, in Hollywood, Florida.
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