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Escucha
la música Hernando Irahola said he and the other three members of the vocal group Opus Cuatro have always had a passion for singing and traveling all over the globe. Irahola, baritone for the group, said they now play over 150 concerts a year in a number of countries.
“We started together in 1968 by meeting after school to go eat and sing together in La Plata, Argentina,” Irahola said. “What simply became a hobby quickly turned into success. We began traveling to America, Europe, and Asia singing and doing what we love.” Germán Gutiérrez, director of orchestral studies, said the Argentinean group will perform in the TCU Latin American Arts Festival Thursday, Friday and Saturday. “They will give 3 beautiful performances in Ed Landreth Hall,” Gutiérrez said. “As soon as we finish the concert (Saturday), we will invite the audience and performers to the Student Center where we will listen and dance to salsa and we will have a big party.” Liz Branch, coordinator of the Latin American Arts Festival, said Opus Cuatro almost did not make it to Fort Worth because they could not receive their visas to come to the U.S. “Since the economy is so bad in Argentina right now, they wanted proof that the group would go back home after they perform in the U.S.,” Branch said. “It was such a hassle. TCU tried to pull strings, but it did not work.” Branch said the group finally got their visas after starting all over and trying again. Marcelo Balsells, second tenor for the group, said it was relief when they all got their visas stamped. “The first attempt to get them was so difficult,” Balsells said. “Fortunately, the second time trying was very easy and we are glad we are here.” Balsells said this is the first time Opus Cuatro has ever played in Fort Worth.
“We have only so far seen the TCU campus and it is very nice,” he said. “We would love to see the city, but we may not be able to because we have a lot of rehearsing to do before our performances.” Irahola said the group has sung together for 34 years and they don't plan on stopping. “We plan to do this until the day we die,” he said. “We love singing and we love music, so why should we ever stop?” According to their Web site, the group has performed 6,400 times in theaters, on radio and television. The group consists of Alberto Hassan (1st tenor), Marcelo Balsells (2nd tenor), Hernando Irahola (baritone) and Federíco Galiana (bass). Editor’s note: Hernando Irahola’s interview was conducted in both Spanish and English. Some quotations were translated. Raul
Martinez IV |
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TCU Daily Skiff © 2002 |
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