{"id":27763,"date":"2018-02-09T03:59:00","date_gmt":"2018-02-09T11:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/?p=27763"},"modified":"2018-02-07T20:22:47","modified_gmt":"2018-02-08T04:22:47","slug":"musical-tribute-to-dear-friend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/2018\/02\/09\/musical-tribute-to-dear-friend\/","title":{"rendered":"Musical tribute to dear friend"},"content":{"rendered":"

Perla Batalla brings the music of Leonard Cohen to the Rothstein Theatre March 11. (photo from Chutzpah!)<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t choose singing. It chose me,\u201d Perla Batalla told the Independent <\/em>in an email interview. Batalla brings her personal and moving tribute to her good friend, Leonard Cohen, to the Chutzpah! Festival March 11.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was not only a mentor and a friend, but also a very great inspiration. Being as I was young when I worked with Leonard \u2013 I was in my 20s \u2013 I watched him like I was watching a master and learning as much as I possibly could,\u201d she said. \u201cHis need to always seek the comfort of his audience was truly generous \u2013 and all too rare. We began working together in the 1980s and we never lost touch, even after I was touring on my own.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Leonard\u2019s earlier tours,\u201d she said, \u201che would tell stories before every song \u2013 very funny, honest stories about his life. Each night he\u2019d tell similar stories, but they always seemed fresh \u2013 like I\u2019d never heard them before \u2013 I think that was because of his honesty, and his ability to show up and always be authentic, be authentically Leonard Cohen.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe had a huge impact on what I do and how I perform. If I approach a song with unconditional honesty, the meaning is not static \u2013 it can ebb and flow as I relate the words to my own life and experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Vancouver, Batalla \u2013 who lives in Ojai, Calif. \u2013 will be joined by pianist Michael Sobie.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe recently returned after touring as assistant conductor and pianist with the Game of Thrones Concert Stadium Tour,\u201d Batalla said. \u201cMichael also performs as the principal pops pianist with the Grand Rapids Symphony and has toured internationally as pianist\/conductor with Broadway musicals like Les Mis\u00e9rables<\/em>, Wicked<\/em>, A\u00efda<\/em> and tons more. He is a dream to work with.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perla Batalla in the House of Cohen<\/em> features songs and personal stories that \u201creveal Cohen\u2019s lighter side,\u201d notes Batalla\u2019s website. It also shows \u201cher sincere respect and deep love for the music, the poetry and, most of all, for her dear friend, Leonard Cohen.\u201d Cohen passed away Nov. 7, 2016.<\/p>\n

Batalla released her first recording in 1994, an eponymous CD on the Warner\/Discovery label, and has since produced six CDs on her own label, Mechuda Music, one of which, Bird on the Wire<\/em>, was a tribute to Cohen. Internationally known, Batalla composes and performs in both English and Spanish. The names of two of her CDs, Discoteca Batalla<\/em> and Mestiza<\/em>, more than hint at how important her heritage is to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up in Venice, Calif.,\u201d she said. \u201cOur family owned a Mexican record shop called Discoteca Batalla, which served as an important hub for Latino culture in West L.A. I constantly feel the push and pull of the Afro-Mexican influence from my father and the Euro-Argentine-Jewish elements from my mom. This is my own mestiza<\/em>, mix \u2013 I wouldn\u2019t trade it for the world. From all sides, theatricality is in my bones, my roots. I don\u2019t only use my voice to sing a song. To completely engage, I have to use my entire body. And it has to be sincere. It has to come from within.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said she comes from a long line of musicians on her father\u2019s side in Mexico and theatre people on her mother\u2019s side in Argentina. \u201cMy father was a singer and my uncle, Cipriano Silva, was a trumpet player with the world-famous Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitl\u00e1n,\u201d she added. \u201cMy desire to sing came early \u2013 when my family took a camping trip, I can remember sitting by myself among the redwoods singing to them. I made up a song and it felt strange, but good. Trees are a very attentive audience.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was a little older,\u201d she continued, \u201cI remember watching my uncles and my father (who were usually pretty scary) singing traditional songs after dinner and openly weeping as they sang \u2013 and it occurred to me at the time that music seemed to have a unique power. By the time I was in my teens, I was studying opera privately and singing in clubs at night; I have never wanted to do anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked about her creative process, how a song comes to her, she said, \u201cResearch and serendipity. My current Frida Kahlo project, Blue House<\/em>, is an example. I wanted this song cycle to be a love letter to the creative spirit. My songwriting partner, David Batteau, and I began by reading everything we could get our hands on; we spent a lot of time in museums; I even started to paint and do art pieces. Through research and discussion, ideas begin to appear like ghosts. It starts as a thread, and then we follow the thread to wherever it leads; destinations we had no idea were even there when we embarked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am also inspired by stories. When I keep my ears open, I can hear stories everywhere. Sometimes there can be a great story hidden within a painting, a black-and-white photograph, or a symphony.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not only has Batalla been recognized for her work in music, but she also has been awarded for trying to heal the world in other ways, as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am most grateful for having the opportunity to do educational outreach with at-risk youth in underserved communities around the U.S.,\u201d she said. \u201cI take a lot of time to talk with the students about how being creative can give you power. Sometimes young people just need to be given permission to explore the artistic horizon.<\/p>\n

\u201cPassing on love and appreciation for music, poetry and the beauty of the Spanish language to the next generation of artists is paramount. I want young people to discover the magic of song. When words and music collide with honesty and humanity, the result is the foundation on which everything of life is built.\u00a0At a time when art and music are marginalized in the education of youth, I am now more than ever committed to educational outreach as I travel throughout the world. Exposing young audiences to the beauty of art, music and poetry through music and live theatre may be our best defence against the current onslaught of cynicism.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for her love of Cohen\u2019s music?<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, it is his imagery, use of metaphor and painful honesty, which gives Leonard\u2019s lyrics such depth of meaning,\u201d she said. \u201cHis poems and songs are also intrinsically personal. When I sing his songs, Leonard\u2019s lyrics help sustain me \u2013 I reinterpret them with each performance. Plus, his lifetime dedication to his craft at the expense of all else is the epitome of devotion to beauty.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added, \u201cFor an artist, reading reviews or caring what everyone thinks is the kiss of death. Since I\u2019m human, I do care what some people think, but, in the end, I do what will satisfy my creative goals and desires. I am grateful every day that I have the freedom to take chances and continue my own journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perla Batalla in the House of Cohen<\/em> is at the Rothstein Theatre for one performance only, on March 11, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

For all of the Chutzpah! music offerings and the full festival schedule, visit chutzpahfestival.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Perla Batalla brings the music of Leonard Cohen to the Rothstein Theatre March 11. (photo from Chutzpah!) I didn\u2019t choose singing. It chose me,\u201d Perla Batalla told the Independent in an email interview. Batalla brings her personal and moving tribute to her good friend, Leonard Cohen, to the Chutzpah! Festival March 11. \u201cHe was not […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":27764,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[785],"tags":[573,6585,3036,7806,4838],"class_list":["post-27763","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-performing-arts","tag-chutzpah-festival","tag-leonard-cohen","tag-music","tag-perla-batalla","tag-storytelling"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27763","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27763"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27763\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27764"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27763"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27763"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27763"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}