Los Angeles will host the world premiere of Latin GRAMMY Award winner Yalil Guerra’s String Quartet No. 4, “Noches de España,” on October 12, performed by the Hispano String Quartet. The event aims to blend Spanish musical traditions with contemporary chamber writing, showcasing the enduring cultural ties across the Hispanic world. The premiere is part of a larger celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, focusing on elevating underrepresented voices in classical music.
“I wanted to celebrate the timeless beauty of Spain—its nights, its poetry, its music—and translate that into a modern string quartet,” he said in advance of the premiere.
The concert will take place at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 311 North Raymond Ave, in Pasadena, beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 12.
The program will feature four premieres: two world premieres and two U.S. premieres. Alongside Guerra’s work, the program includes compositions by Giovanni Piacentini (Mexico), Alejandro Román (Spain), and Tomás Peire Serrate (Spain).
Guerra described “Noches de España” as a tribute to Spain’s cultural heritage that combines rhythmic vitality with lyrical expression. Founded by Guerra, the Hispano String Quartet specializes in works by Hispanic and Latin American composers and aims to highlight diverse voices often underrepresented in the classical repertoire.
The concert spotlights Los Angeles’ role as a hub for new music and cross-cultural dialogue, bringing together contemporary voices from across the Hispanic world.
St. Andrew Catholic Church, 311 North Raymond Ave, in Pasadena. For more, call (626) 792-4183. Tickets for the event are available here.
