It would take a book to list all of Andrés’ accomplishments. He won first place in several international piano competitions, including the Luis Troccoli International Piano Competition and the Luis Cluzeau Mortet Piano Competition, as well as the Young Artist Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera House. He also was awarded the 2007 Outstanding Young Conductor of the Year award by the Association of Choral Directors of America.
Andrés finds being artistic director the most challenging of his many pursuits. “You have to multi-task,” he says. “You have to hire singers, envision the production, the space available, the scenery, the costumes, conduct the orchestra.”
This is exactly what he will be doing at his newest job as artistic director at Emerald City Opera in Steamboat Springs, Colo., which, on Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m., is presenting “Candide,” Leonard Bernstein’s comedic operetta based on Voltaire’s satire of innocence, optimism and the unexpected lessons of life. Andrés will, as well, provide direction for Steamboat Springs’ Education and Outreach programs, including those for music education in elementary schools in northwest Colorado and and Steamboat’s summer Opera Artist Institute for emerging professional singers.
This summer, the institute is presenting a double-bill in English: “The Child and the Spells,” by Maurice Ravel (50 minutes), and “Bon Appetit,” by Lee Hoiby (20 minutes), on Friday, Aug. 14, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 15 at 1:30 p.m.
Andrés who lives in Denver, is also condensing Tobias Picker’s opera, “Dolores Claiborne,” based on the Stephen King novel, to chamber opera. His future dates include conducting the performances chorus master for “Aida” with Opera Colorado and conductor of the “Q-Opera” with Quantum Theater of Pittsburgh.
Edith Lynn Hornik-Beer is a freelance author/journalist/lecturer. Her articles have been published both here and abroad, including in The Sunday New York Times, The Denver Post, Elle, and Berlin Tagesblatt. She gives seminars on writing at Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat Springs. Edith is our ground reporter from Denver.