Despite all the vicissitudes in her life—past and current—Tania Libertad does not stop laughing.
“Now I am at total intensity,” said the Peruvian performer who has lived in Mexico City since the early nineties. “Now I am more playful than before, I am more relaxed, more playful; “It has returned to me like a kind of second youth.”
And above all, he says, he really wants to continue singing.
Tania has every reason to be so effusive. At 71 years old, he has overcome cancer three times. This month he would have to go for his routine check-up but according to the latest exams everything was fine with his health.
Now, for that reason, he no longer tours as extensively, although his music has not stopped. The pandemic did not allow him to promote a live album, and also cut short a tour he was doing in several cities in Mexico. But currently he is back in the studio—which he has in his own home—to finish several musical projects, among them a mariachi album with songs by Chabuca Granda, commissioned by Chabuca’s own daughter.
A tribute album to Violeta Parra is also on the way with songs that are not well known in Mexico.
“Now I have taken to singing songs of heartbreak,” said Tania, the only woman in a family of eight siblings. “I’ve done it several times, like the album I recorded in 2015 with Los Macorinos, which was very ‘cortavenas’, with very painful songs.”
This has been Tania Libertad’s career since she became an independent artist several decades ago. He has been able to create a repertoire of ranchera songs, boleros, trova, songs by Joaquín Sabina, Gian Marco and Joan Manuel Serrat.
“I think it’s a pretty successful mix,” he said about his very varied musical catalog.
Currently she is very excited about a couple of presentations that will put her on two important international stages: one is a show at the iconic Metropolitan Theater in Mexico City—where she returns after a decade—, and a participation in the celebration of the Day of The Dead at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles this Saturday. She is part of the cast made up of Pedro Fernández, Los Lobos, El Santo Golpe and others.
The visit to Los Angeles also marks Tania’s return to this city after so many years that not even she remembers the last time she was in these parts.
He used to come more often to cultural venues like Royce Hall and the Hollywood Bowl, where he once shared the stage with figures like Tracy Chapman.
For his weekend show, he promised to make his audience cry with some of the songs he dedicates to loved ones who are gone.
“It will be a joy to return,” he said.
In detail
That: Tania Libertad on the Day of the Dead
When: Saturday, October 26, from 10 am to 12 midnight
Where: Hollywood Forever, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles
As: tickets from $25
Information: www.ladayofthedead.com