Marco Antonio Labastida is a fundamental figure of cultural promotion, known as a quintessential Tijuana tenor singer. He is a lyrical singing pioneer in Baja California and in the classic guitar series at Centro Cultural Tijuana (Tijuana Cultural Center). He has participated in the Tijuana and Bellas Artes Operas, in operas such as La Bohème, Elisir d’amore, La Traviata, Madama Butterfly, Romeo and Juliet, The Barber of Seville, and The Seagull. He sang at the world premiere of the opera “Serafina y Arcángela” by the Tijuana composer Enrique González Medina. In 2015, he was inducted at the “Paseo de las Estrellas” (walk of fame) in Avenida Revolución in Tijuana. He was awarded as “Líder de Baja California” (Baja California’s leader) by Campestre magazine in 2018. In 2019, he received the Agustín Lara medal and in 2020, he participated in the Agustín Lara tribute concert celebrated in Madrid, Spain to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his death. In July 2021, he received the Premio al Mérito Cívico Josefina Rendón Parra (Civic Merit Award) given by the Tijuana government for his contributions to culture.
Judith Rodriguez
Texas native, Judith Rodriguez, is a lyric soprano and Spanish music specialist, living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Her voice has delighted many stages, such as The Hall of the Americas in Washington, D.C., singing a program of Spanish Zarzuela before many representatives from the American States. In July of 2019, Ms. Rodriguez made her operatic debut in Florence, Italy, singing the title role in the opera, Suor Angelica, under the direction of Adrian Sylveen, Artistic Director of Connecticut Lyric Opera. She received positive reviews from Texas Classical Review after having performed the lead role in the Spanish Zarzuela, El Barbero de Sevilla, in Dallas. “The most challenging role of the evening, that of Elena, fell to soprano Judith Rodriguez, who displayed a solid tone with an impressive flexibility in the Rossini-style aria ‘Me llaman la primorosa’.” In November of 2018, Judith Rodriguez was invited to sing the role of Micaëla in Plano Symphony Orchestra’s highlights of the opera, Carmen, under the direction of Maestro Hector Guzman. Ms. Rodriguez has received great reviews in Spain for her interpretation of versatile roles such as Countess Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro, the lead role of Marina, Cio-Cio-San in Madame Butterfly, Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief, Pepita in Pepita Jimenez, Donna Anna and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni. Judith Rodriguez was featured in Arlington’s The American Dream City series. She was also invited to sing for the podcast, Eat, Drink, Opera, for the month of May 2019. Ms. Rodriguez has prepared the role of Luisa, in Fort Worth Opera’s premiere, Zorro, by Mexican composer, Hector Armienta.
