Executive & Artistic Director

Thor Steingraber

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Chavela y Sus Mujeres

Un Homenaje a Chavela Vargas

Starring

Ofelia Medina | Eugenia León

Ely Guerra | La Marisoul

Los Macorinos

Mariachi Gama 1000

Featuring

Jose “Pepe” Martinez Jr. & Jimmy Cuéllar

Sat Apr 18 | 8PM Sun Apr 19 | 3PM

Run time: approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes with no intermission ________ Program | Program Note

Performers & Musicians

About the Program

Chavela Vargas

Ofelia Medina | Eugenia León | Ely Guerra | La Marisoul

Los Macorinos | Mariachi Gama 1000

Chavela y Sus Mujeres Staff

Interview With Eugenia León & La Marisoul

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The Soraya

Our Supporters | The Soraya Team

About the Program

Majestic voices singing to their beloved Mexico, to love and heartbreak.   Great women interpreting great composers, with one purpose: to pay their respects to a woman, Chavela Vargas.   Only some of the greatest artists could pay this tribute to “the rough voice of tenderness”: Eugenia León, Ely Guerra, and La Marisoul (La Santa Cecilia), as well as actress Ofelia Medina, as the personification of Vargas. They’re accompanied by Vargas’ musicians Los Macorinos, and the outstanding Mariachi Gama 1000 with guest musicians.   The women of Chavela will take the audience through an evening of bohemian and nostalgic reflections of her life, which they will never forget.   Vargas was not afraid of death because she knew that she would always be alive: Her voice had immortalized her through the songs of José Alfredo Jiménez, Agustin Lara, Álvaro Carrillo, and Juan Gabriel, just to name a few — and the music had taken another direction based on her interpretations.    Vargas is one of the greatest icons in Mexican music and history, in cantinas, in songs, in love stories, and heartbreaks, too. Vargas doesn’t die, she remains alive forever; her hoarse voice that woke up in the middle of the night was unmistakable, it was impossible not to shudder before her — and she made you want more.    Vargas lives in hundreds of songs — some she performs, others she inspires, some she doesn’t even know about. She is magic, she is love, she is the voice of the heart, the voice that sings Mexico’s songs, and the voice that must never be forgotten.

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Chavela Vargas

In the early 1900s, Mexico’s cantinas were dominated by men. Chavela Vargas (1919–2012) changed that. As a teenager, she fled her family in Costa Rica, finding refuge in Mexico City, where the cigar-smoking, tequila-drinking, gender-bending singer boldly claimed Mexican rancheras and boleros for herself. Dressed in men’s clothing, Vargas brought a rugged voice and a solo guitar to the stories of love, heartbreak, and patriotism previously reserved only for male performers.  By the 1950s, Vargas had become legendary for her one-of-a-kind performances, as well as for her unconventional personal life. Alcoholism took her from the stage in the 1970s, but Vargas reemerged in the 1990s and launched a Latin GRAMMY®-winning international comeback, championed by Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar. Vargas received a 2007 lifetime achievement award from the Latin Recording Academy for her distinctive interpretations of ranchera songs and her unique stage presence.  Vargas’ hard living did not cut short her life. She passed away at the age of 93. 

Ofelia Medina

Ofelia Medina is a Mexican dancer, actress, singer, screenwriter, radio producer, and social activist. She trained at the Academia de la Danza Mexicana in Mexico City, graduating as a performer and teacher of classical, regional, and contemporary dance, where she studied under Alejandro Jodorowsky and engaged with influential figures across the arts.   Deeply inspired by Frida Kahlo from an early age, Medina developed a lifelong commitment to Mexico’s Indigenous communities, blending art with activism. Since the mid-1980s, she has worked closely with Indigenous peoples to defend their rights and create culturally rooted artistic projects. In 1990, Medina founded the Trust for the Health of Indigenous Children of Mexico, reinforcing her role as a prominent advocate for social justice. As an artist, Medina has built a multifaceted career across film, theater, and large-scale multidisciplinary productions, including her acclaimed role in Frida, Naturaleza Viva. She is also a writer and director of ambitious plays and poetic and musical works, and has expanded into filmmaking and television, earning international recognition. Medina’s career stands out for its powerful intersection of artistic creation and cultural activism, making her a leading voice in both fields.

Eugenia León

A universal singer with Mexican roots, Eugenia León was born in Tlalnepantla de Baz, Mexico. She began her career in the early 1970s within the Nueva Trova movement, performing with student groups before joining ensembles such as Víctor Jara and Sanampay. In 1982, León launched her solo career, establishing herself as a powerful and distinctive voice shaped by the social and cultural spirit of her generation. Renowned for her vocal quality and interpretive depth, León has built a rich and eclectic repertoire that spans ranchera, bolero, tango, danzón, rock, and Latin American folk music, among others. With over 30 albums, her work reflects a deep engagement with Mexican culture, poetry, and musical heritage, aiming to both celebrate tradition and inspire social and personal reflection through music. The Latin GRAMMY Award-winning artist has represented Mexico in five Universal Expositions and performed on major stages worldwide across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Throughout León’s career, she has collaborated with leading orchestras and iconic artists, while also working in film, television, and radio. Her artistic versatility and cultural commitment have made her one of Mexico’s most respected and influential musical figures.

Ely Guerra

Latin GRAMMY winner Ely Guerra is a Mexican singer-songwriter and producer with over 30 years of experience. She has been an independent entrepreneur for nearly 20 years via her record label, Homey Company. Guerra has performed throughout Mexico as well as in various cities across Europe, the United States, Cuba, and Central and South America.   A pioneer and a unique voice as a singer and songwriter, Guerra has also built exciting and eclectic musical bridges through collaborations with numerous talents from both popular and classical music.    Guerra’s most recent collaborations include projects with conductor Gustavo Dudamel, La Única Internacional Sonora Santanera, tenor Fernando de la Mora, Los Macorinos, and Mariachi Gama 1000.

La Marisoul

Born Eva Marisol Hernández in Downtown Los Angeles, La Marisoul grew up immersed in music through her mother’s singing and her father’s passion for it. From an early age, she explored a wide range of styles — from traditional Mexican songs and boleros to jazz and rock.   Inspired by life, love, and the stories of her community, La Marisoul began writing songs that intertwine personal experiences with broader reflections on humanity and society. Having grown up between Mexico and the United States, she was shaped by the duality of American pop culture and the roots of traditional folk music, which helped define her musical sensibility. “That’s the root of what I sang — traditional boleros and rancheras that I learned from the musicians who played in the restaurants on Olvera Street,” says La Marisoul. “They taught me to sing loud and to pass the basket.” In 2007, La Marisoul became the lead singer of La Santa Cecilia, a band that has performed extensively across the U.S. and Mexico and won the GRAMMY Award for Best Latin Rock Album in 2014 for Treinta Días. She has also participated in major international tributes and performances, including at the Hollywood Bowl and Walt Disney Concert Hall. As a songwriter, mother, and activist, La Marisoul continues to share the richness of Mexican cultural roots and American influences with audiences around the world.

Los Macorinos

Juan Carlos Allende and the late Miguel Peña, original members of Los Macorinos, met in 2004 when Chavela Vargas invited them to join her concerts, accompanying her until the end of her career. They collaborated with renowned artists such as Tania Libertad, Lila Downs, Eugenia León, and Pepe Aguilar. Their signature style — deeply inspired by the legendary guitarist Antonio Bribiesca — blends rustic, nostalgic tones with acoustic arrangements rooted in Mexican folk traditions.   A key turning point in their career came in 2014, when León connected them with Natalia Lafourcade during the tribute to Chavela Vargas in Durango, Mexico. This collaboration led to the creation of Musas, a project that honors Latin American folk music and earned the Latin GRAMMY Award for Best Folk Album in 2017, solidifying Los Macorinos’ place in contemporary Latin music.   Peña, originally from Jalisco, Mexico, built a prolific career performing with orchestras and major Mexican artists until his passing in 2025, while Allende — an Argentine-born master of the Spanish guitar — has collaborated with leading figures across genres and performed internationally. Today, Allende continues this legacy alongside requinto player Manuel F. Saukey López Liu (Saukey Liy), preserving and evolving the rich tradition of Mexican acoustic music.

Mariachi Gama 1000

Founded in 1995, Mariachi Gama 1000 specializes in rancheras, boleros, corridos, huapangos, sones, and more. Led by Jesús “Chucho” Gama and his sons Jesús and Chadbi Gama, the mariachi from Mexico City offers audiences the joy of traditional Mexican music accompanied by lively dance performances, made possible by their professional training in classical dance and folkloric jazz.   Mariachi Gama 1000 has collaborated with numerous renowned artists, including Vicente Fernández, Pepe Aguilar, Plácido Domingo, Shakira, Thalía, Daniela Romo, Pedro Fernández, Luis Miguel, Juan Gabriel, Fernando de la Mora, Lucero, Carlos Rivera, and Paul McCartney.    For the U.S. debut of Chavela y Sus Mujeres at The Soraya, Jose “Pepe” Martinez Jr. (Mariachi Los Angeles) and Jimmy Cuéllar (Mariachi Garibaldi) will perform as featured guests in the ensemble.