Make sure to buy tickets for June 5th! Credit to 92NY.
Los Angeles, California (May 21, 2025)- On Thursday, June 5, 2025, The 92nd Street Y, New York (92NY) will welcome two musical legends—Paraguayan guitar virtuoso Berta Rojas and Cuban clarinetist and saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera—for an evening of transcendent artistry and Latin American musical heritage. The concert will take place at 7:30 PM ET on the Geffen Stage at Kaufmann Concert Hall and will also be available via online streaming for 72 hours after the performance. Tickets start at $40 and are available at 92NY.org.
Rojas and D’Rivera, each giants in their own right, come together in a rare performance that celebrates their shared love for the music of Latin America. Their long-standing collaboration, rich in musicality and cultural significance, includes a wide-ranging repertoire from classical to jazz, folk to contemporary. The June 5 program features works by iconic Paraguayan composer Agustín Barrios Mangoré—whom Rojas is widely regarded as the foremost interpreter of—as well as compositions by D’Rivera himself and other Latin American masters.
The evening’s repertoire includes Barrios Mangoré’s Un Sueño en la Floresta, Choro da Saudade, Ca’azapa, Maxixe, Preludio en Do Menor, and Las Abejas, all arranged by Mauricio Cardozo Ocampo. D’Rivera will offer Tribute to Dizz, his homage to Dizzy Gillespie, while pieces like Recuerdos de Ypacarai and Mis Noches sin Ti by Demetrio Ortiz, and Choli by José Asunción Flores, will round out the program with romantic, nostalgic flair.
Berta Rojas has been hailed as a “guitarist extraordinaire” by The Washington Post and an “ambassador of the classical guitar” by Classical Guitar Magazine. Winner of the 2022 Latin Grammy for Best Classical Album for Legado, Rojas has long been committed to championing the music of Paraguay and broader Latin America. Her international career has included performances at Carnegie Hall, London’s South Bank Centre, and Brussels’ Flagey Studio 4. In 2011, she and D’Rivera launched In the Footsteps of Mangoré, a four-year tour through 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries honoring the life and travels of Barrios Mangoré.
Rojas’s passion for mentorship is equally profound. Through initiatives like the Barrios WorldWideWeb Competition and the Ensemble Pu Rory, she nurtures the next generation of classical guitarists. She currently serves on the faculty at Berklee College of Music.
Paquito D’Rivera, a towering figure in both jazz and classical music, is a winner of 18 Grammy and Latin Grammy awards. His career spans decades and genres, from his foundational work with the Cuban jazz fusion band Irakere to solo performances with major orchestras worldwide. Known affectionately as “El Paq-Man,” D’Rivera is celebrated for his vibrant musical range—from bebop and tango to chamber works like Merengue, recorded with Yo-Yo Ma, which won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition.
Beyond performance, D’Rivera is a prolific composer and author, and a passionate advocate for elevating Latin American music within classical and jazz traditions. His recent accolades include 2023 Latin Grammys for Best Contemporary Classical Composition (Concerto Venezolano) and Best Latin Jazz Album (And I Missed You, Too!).
This performance at 92NY promises to be a musical journey across borders, time, and genres—an evening where two virtuosos unite their talents to celebrate the power and beauty of Latin American music. Whether attending in person or online, audiences can expect an unforgettable experience steeped in emotion, virtuosity, and cultural richness.
For tickets and streaming access, visit 92NY.org.
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