On July 12 and 13, vocalist Isabel Marie Sánchez joins the Houston Symphony for a celebration of the iconic music of Selena. Get tickets and more information here.
A small, four-piece rhythm section waits on stage. The house lights are low. The red seats are empty. Isabel Marie Sánchez, a young vocalist with a gleaming smile, steps onto the Jones Hall stage for the first time. She begins one of Selena’s greatest hits, and instantly, the hall resonates with the music of one of the greatest artists who ever lived: Selena Quintanilla. “Just being able to perform these songs with the Symphony is truly an honor,” said Isabel Marie. As she dances across the stage and sings “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” “Como la Flor,” and “Dreaming of You,” one can see she is a natural performer.
“The Queen of Tejano Music,” Selena performed in venues across Texas, including her record-breaking, sold-out show in Houston’s Astrodome during the 1995 Houston Rodeo season—her last live performance before her passing. Now, under the auspices of its Hispanic Leadership Council, the Houston Symphony joins with young recording artist Isabel Marie (currently signed to Q-Zone Records, the label owned by Selena’s father) for The Music of Selena, giving Selena fans the chance to hear her music like never before, in fresh arrangements that stay true to the timeless hits of the Tejano star.
Most popular in Texas, Tejano is a unique genre of music that integrates Texas country beats and traditional Mexican rhythms, including the Latin sounds of cumbias and mariachi. Arranger Adam Podd, commissioned with the support of the Houston Symphony Hispanic Leadership Council, has been tasked with translating Selena’s music to a full orchestra augmented by the rhythm section of a pop band, and he knows how special Selena’s music is. “One of the greatest things about arranging Selena’s music for orchestra is that it’s so emotional,” said Adam. “It’s very dramatic for pop music . . . You really get an emotional—dramatic—performance from the singer. That’s what an orchestra does best. You can make an orchestra go from really small to really big and highlight that drama.”
Some of Selena’s music already includes lines for strings and trumpets, but an orchestra offers even more colors. As the orchestrator and arranger, Adam must “highlight the other players as well when there’s an opportunity. There are other instruments to be added. I’ll find the places where we can afford a little flute line here. I’ll look for places to add color and texture.”
At the same time, he respects that Selena’s music is nostalgic for fans who grew up listening to her at family gatherings and parties—they recognize even small details in her recordings. While orchestrating Selena’s songs, Adam said he makes sure “to get those elements to feel the way people are used to hearing them,” while adding the power, colors, and textures of an orchestra.
Selena’s posthumous album, Dreaming of You, featured her greatest English-language hits, songs the Tejano star never performed live. “I’m looking forward to singing ‘I Could Fall in Love’ just because . . . she wasn’t able to perform those songs—‘Dreaming of You’ and all her English songs. I really feel honored to be able to perform them,” said Isabel Marie, “especially with the Symphony. It’s going to be beautiful. I just can’t wait to hear all the instruments bring it to life.” —Mireya Reyna
