Dorian Wood
Xavela Lux Aeterna (The Voice of Chavela Vargas)
A musical ceremony honouring Chavela Vargas.
Xavela Lux Aeterna is a powerful tribute to the legendary Mexican-Costa Rican singer Chavela Vargas, created and performed by vocalist and composer Dorian Wood. The performance follows a ritualistic journey through grief, love, resistance, and liberation, celebrating the indomitable spirit and raw emotional power of Vargas’ music.
Accompanied by a string quartet, guitar, and electronics, Wood reinterprets Chavela’s repertoire, blending traditional ranchera and bolero with contemporary soundscapes and theatrical elements. This creates an intense musical space in which personal and cultural expression converge. Themes such as identity, rebellion, and queerness - so emblematic of Chavela’s life - are afforded a fresh resonance here.
The title means 'Xavela, eternal light' and refers to Vargas’ enduring influence on generations of listeners. With this performance, Dorian Wood rekindles that light in a musical ceremony that bridges past and present.
Accompanied by a string quartet, guitar, and electronics, Wood reinterprets Chavela’s repertoire, blending traditional ranchera and bolero with contemporary soundscapes and theatrical elements. This creates an intense musical space in which personal and cultural expression converge. Themes such as identity, rebellion, and queerness - so emblematic of Chavela’s life - are afforded a fresh resonance here.
The title means 'Xavela, eternal light' and refers to Vargas’ enduring influence on generations of listeners. With this performance, Dorian Wood rekindles that light in a musical ceremony that bridges past and present.