By Fredric Dannen
San Miguel de Allende is a magnet for musical talent, and many of our finest performers have come from the United States–vocalist Lady Zen, pianist Ken Bichel, and violinist Felicia Moye, to cite just three examples. But there is also homegrown talent, and among that group no one has risen so quickly to international stature as tenor Enrique de Allende.
Born in San Miguel, Enrique de Allende discovered his vocal gifts at an early age, began performing as a youth, and then set out to work diligently on his music education. It is an unfortunate fact, well known in classical music circles, that naturally gifted tenors are frequently lazy on the fundamentals (Luciano Pavarotti, for instance, never learned to read music). Enrique majored in music in college, and then went on to study with master instructors of the vocal arts. He received training from Erik Vitro, who was Katy Perry’s vocal coach, and from Seth Riggs, the vocal coach to artists such as Madonna and Michael Bolton. More recently, he became a protégé of the celebrated music producer David Foster, who has trained and produced artists such as Josh Groban and Celine Dion.
Foster has this to say about de Allende: “The interpretations of Enrique de Allende bristle your skin. It is an experience that penetrates your ears and connects you with universal contemporary music, with a romantic, classical style, but with a youthful touch. It’s the new Julio Iglesias, with a sweet but powerful voice.”
De Allende’s career has taken off so rapidly, in fact, that San Miguel audiences have seen little of him in recent years. He made a guest appearance last March at Bellas Artes for cabaret singer Mark Hartman’s tribute to Noel Coward and Cole Porter, in which he sang Coward’s “I’ll Be Seeing You” and Porter’s “So in Love,” and brought the house down. But mainly de Allende has been touring, and in 2023 he will begin a year-long residency in Europe.
Fortunately, de Allende is planning two farewell-for-now concerts in San Miguel–one for next Valentine’s Day or thereabouts, and one coming right up next week, a concert in the Miguel Malo auditorium at Bellas Artes on Saturday, December 10, at 7pm. The concert is called Enrique de Allende Sings the Andrea Bocelli Songbook, and apart from two obligatory Christmas numbers, he will sing many vocal gems from Bocelli’s repertoire, from opera to romantic songs in Italian, English, and Spanish. The concert may also include a special guest or two.
His accompanist will be another in the list of superb musicians who have relocated to San Miguel from elsewhere, the Cuban-born pianist Gabriel Hernández. Maestro Hernández recently appeared at Bellas Artes in a concert with flutist Ricardo Benítez.
Reserved seat tickets for the December 10 concert are 600, 500 and 400 pesos, and can be purchased online at boletocity.com or at the Boleto City ticket office on the ground floor of Mercado Sano, Ancha de San Antonio 123, Monday-Saturday, 11am-5pm.
Concert
Enrique de Allende Sings the Andrea Bocelli Songbook
With Enrique de Allende, tenor, and Gabriel Hernández, piano
Sat, Dec 10, 7pm
Miguel Malo auditorium
Bellas Artes
600/500/400 pesos
Boleto City, Mercado Sano, Mon-Sat, 11am-5pm
Online e tickets: boletocity.com
