George Mattox, Executive Director

Overview

 

Since it was established in 1987 the Hispanic-American Lyric Theatre has been committed to providing young professional artists in the field of Opera and Ballet, performing opportunities and financial assistance in Miami-Dade. Our performances have also provided cultural awareness of the Zarzuela (Spanish Lyric Theatre) which is very popular in Spain and Latin America. Our programs take place throughout Miami-Dade and some of the venues we perform include Florida International University-Wertheim Performing Arts Center, Colony Theater, North Miami Beach Performing Arts Theater, Dave and Mary Alper Jewish Community Center, Manuel Artime Theater (Little Havana) and Ophelia & Juan Roca Theater among others. From 1996-99 we presented our "Hialeah Arts Series" providing cultural programs to a culturally underserved area where over 250,000 people, mostly low income Hispanics reside.

 

One of the major roles of our organization is the development and support of young outstanding artists who wish to pursue a career in the performing arts. Thanks to our continued support, artists of the caliber of soprano Elizabeth Caballero (New York City Opera, Metropolitan Opera, Florida Grand Opera), Eglise Gutierrez (La Scala di Milano, Teatro Colón de Buenos Aires, Cincinnati Opera, Florida Grand Opera) and others are now performing in the National and International scene. 

 

In 1997 our organization commissioned the full length Opera/Ballet, "Rosalinda". After two workshop productions of the work, it was finally premiered in October 2007, celebrating our 20th anniversary.

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Executive Director, George Mattox

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George Mattox began his love of music by singing in musical productions in high school and college. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico to a Peruvian mother and American father he was taken at an early age to Havana, Cuba.

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After  studying at Indiana University, George went to Spain where he continued his studies at the University of Madrid. He then performed with with the National Zarzuela Company at the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid and also in various concerts and musical programs at different cultural centers throughout Spain. 

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In 1968 he went to Lima, Peru where he took an active role in the musical life of the city. He sang with the National Zarzuela & Operetta Company and in 1971 joined Pepita Embill's  (mother of Plácido Domingo) zarzuela company. He sang the lyric tenor roles from such popular zarzuelas as "Los Gavilanes", "Luisa Fernanda", "Los Claveles" and "El Manojo de Rosas" among others.

 

On various occasions he was  a guest soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Lima. While serving as director of the Fulbright Commission in Lima, he worked towards the reorganization of the orchestra by bringing U.S. musicians to play with them and teach at the National Conservatory of Music. He also performed in major cities in Peru in a series of programs sponsored by the U.S. Embassy.

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In the field of Opera he has sung Rodolfo in "La Boheme" (Puccini), the title role of "Werther"(Massenet), the Duke of Mantua in Verdi's "Rigoletto", Ernesto and Nemorino in the comic operas "Don Pasquale" and "Elixir of Love" (Donizetti), Lt Pinkerton in Puccini's "Madame Butterfly", the title role of Gounod's "Faust" and Don José in Bizet's "Carmen".

 

George Mattox has also appeared in a number of operettas and musicals. Among them are "The Desert Song", "Song of Norway", "Carousel", and "The Merry Widow".

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He was also specially praised for his performance of El Gallo in the musical "The Fantasticks".

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Since 1980 George has been living in Miami with his wife and children - (all grown up by now with two living in New York). Seeing the void and lack of opportunities for young singers, he founded the Hispanic-American Lyric Theatre. Many young singers who began singing with the organization are now performing in major opera houses in the U.S. and abroad.

 

Among them are sopranos Elizabeth Caballero, Eglise Gutierrez, Sandra López and mezzo-soprano Mabel Ledo. He also continues to support ballet dancers and has worked closely with various Miami based dance companies.

 

As a composer he has created the opera/ballet "Rosalinda" in collaboration with Maestro José Ramón Urbay. The opera received its world premiere in October, 2007 at the Ophelia & Juan Roca Theater in Miami. 

 

In 2004 George he received the "Unsung Hero Award" by the Arts & Bussiness Council of Miami for his work on behalf of artists and arts organizations in Miami-Dade.