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José Pepe Martinez
Composer
Biography
José "Pepe" Martínez was born in Tecalitlán, Jalisco, Mexico, and joined his first mariachi band as a violinist at the age of twelve. He began writing music when he was nineteen years old, and in 1966 formed his own mariachi ensemble, Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán. In 1975, he joined Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, and his work with that ensemble established him as a composer and arranger, marking a new era for Mariachi Vargas and creating a sonic style that has become synonymous with el mejor mariachi del mundo-the best mariachi in the world. "Somos Novios" and "El Cascabel" are two of the first songs Martínez arranged for his new group; original works such as "Violín Huapango," "Lluvia de cuerdas," "Mexicanísimo," and "Viva Veracruz" with its rapid violin ricochets-a Martínez signature-followed. Today, Martínez continues writing, learning, performing, and breaking new ground in the creation of mariachi music as the music director of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán.
OPERA America/Opera.ca Grants Awarded
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to learn more about OPERA America granting programs.
GRANT NAME
YEAR
The Opera Fund: Audience Development
2017
Productions
Click company name to view productions details.
COMPANY
TITLE
DATES
Opera Idaho
Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
4/18/2024 - 4/21/2024
Austin Opera
Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
2/1/2024 - 2/4/2024
Minnesota Opera
Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
11/4/2023 - 11/12/2023
Opera Santa Barbara
Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
10/1/2021 - 10/3/2021
Fort Worth Opera
El Pasado Nunca Se Termina
5/10/2019 - 5/12/2019
El Paso Opera
To Cross the Face of the Moon / Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
4/5/2019 - 4/6/2019
Houston Grand Opera
To Cross the Face of the Moon / Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
5/17/2018 - 5/20/2018
Fort Worth Opera
Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
4/29/2017 - 5/7/2017
San Diego Opera Association
El Pasado Nunca Se Termina
4/25/2015 - 4/25/2015
Lyric Opera of Chicago
El Pasado Nunca Se Termina
3/13/2015 - 3/29/2015
Arizona Opera
Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
10/10/2014 - 10/18/2014
Houston Grand Opera
To Cross the Face of the Moon / Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
11/12/2010 - 11/12/2010
Artist Information
All information is derived from OPERA America's Season Schedule of Performances and titles databases which date back to 1991. OPERA America is constantly updating this data. If you feel that a work or an artist has been omitted or that information is incorrect, please use the linked forms below.
Title Information Form
Artist Information Form
Works by Artist
Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
El Pasado Nunca Se Termina
El Pasado Nunca Se Termina (The Past is Never Finished)
To Cross the Face of the Moon / Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
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