TANIA LIBERTAD – EN

Tania Libertad 

(Tania Libertad de Souza Zuñiga)

Born: 24 October 1952, Zaña, Lambayeque, Peru

Libertad sang from a very early age and was soon attracting attention in her home region. Although her repertoire first centred upon Peruvian folk music, which contains elements that echo African origins, she soon added material from other South and Central American countries, including boleros, ranchera and salsa. Her own background is similarly mixed: her father was of Portuguese descent, her mother Peruvian of Spanish heritage. Libertad studied engineering, meanwhile singing in clubs at night, extending her already huge repertoire of boleros to include popular protest songs. In her teens, she relocated to Lima, then in the late 70s/early 80s settled in Mexico City, which is where she has remained based eventually becoming a Mexican citizen. She has toured extensively, visiting most countries of South America, the USA, Europe and parts of Africa. She appeared in London and New York, in the latter case appearing at the Blue Note club, a gig that was recorded, and at one of Joseph Papp’s Central Park productions.

Among musicians with whom Libertad has had long and fruitful relationships are guitarist Felix Casaverde and pianist Sonia Cornuchet. The latter has been her musical director for more than two decades. In addition to her successes as a singer, in 1997 Libertad was named by UNESCO as an Honorary Peace Ambassador. Throughout her career, she has favoured the music of Peruvian blacks, that is, those citizens who have retained their African cultural connections. She has adding to this performance of music that is based in the great traditions of South American song and dance. Libertad has not excluded other musical forms and has worked with rock musicians, such as Phil Manzanera. As she shows on the 2002 recording Arias De Opera … ¿Y Porque No? (Operatic Arias,… And Why Not?), she also has a distinctive take on grand opera.