About

Forrópera is a project co-created by North American vocalist/composer Chrystal E. Williams and Brazilian accordionist/composer Felipe Hostins as a way to foster unity, peace, and understanding through their musical marriage. 

Combining elements of Brazilian folk music and classical opera, the husband/wife duo began their musical collaboration in 2016. They started out working with inner city schools, helping students use music as a way of expression and growth. Working with students of different backgrounds and prior levels of musical training, Forrópera residencies joyfully empower participants through co-created music, drama, and dance. A combination of forró (meaning “for all”) and opera (meaning “work”), Forrópera’s mission is to create and share works of art that are truly for all. 

The 2026/27 season features the world premiere of the duo’s new show with orchestra, commissioned by and in partnership with Cape Symphony Orchestra and local Brazilian musicians. They also join Counterpoint Concerts for a unique curated recital titled ‘AMERICAS: NORTH/SOUTH’. In recent seasons the duo has shared their unique offerings across many stages, from their Carnegie Hall debut with the American Composer’s Orchestra, to their role as featured performers in the Black Heritage Day celebration (in co-production with Greensboro Opera and the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum Music Festival). The duo is also highly in demand for special events and has been featured with organizations such as the Presser Foundation, American Composers Orchestra, On Site Opera, Death of Classical, and others. They frequently engage audiences outside of classical music including a recent recital at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI) jazz festival.

May 2021 saw the premiere of the Forrópera Experiência, in collaboration with Astral Artists and the Esperanza Arts Center. Other recent engagements include those with Opera Delaware, Baltimore Opera, and the Kaufman Music Center’s “Musical Storefronts” Series. They have collaborated with artists including Davi Vieira, Paquito D’Rivera, Mauro Refosco, Gil Oliveira, Jake Owen, Gabe Hall Rodrigues, and Natalia Kazaryan, among others. 

Felipe Hostins, composer and accordionist/multi-instrumentalist, was born in Blumenau, Santa Catarina in Brazil. He discovered the accordion through his paternal grandfather, Valmor Hostins, at the age of 3. At the age of 21, he moved to the United States, starting his international career. From an early age, Hostins explored various musical styles, creating a unique blend of his own from diverse influences. A recent review of his new composition Meu Brasil de Cristal raved “Hostins had an entire orchestra in his accordion. He asked of Williams both bel canto agility and low register digs into sorrow, and she carried it beautifully.” (The Philadelphia Inquirer). 

Hostins is involved in many projects and recently co-composed and recorded So solo che la vita and Senza gravità on the album Niuiorcherubini by Italian artist Jovanotti. He also co-composed and recorded the soundtrack of the Brazilian film, O Engraxate que escalou o Everest by Ian Ruas; and is a featured composer and performer on the album CHAMA by Cyro Baptista. He is part of the Gadji Accordion Team (www.gadji.fr) and has been featured in the Festival Internacional de Acordeões de Setúbal (Portugal), the Festival Internacional de Acordeões de Algarve (Portugal), the inaugural Brazilian Accordion Panorama Festival (Digital); as well as the Montana Folk Festival (USA), the National Folk Festival (USA) and the Richmond Folk Festival (USA). Hostins was a 2024 finalist in the 2nd Prêmio da Musica Instrumental (Brazil) competition, and was recently featured in the American Accordionists’ Association Gala.

Praised by Opera News as “fiery and gorgeous’, GRAMMY Award-winning artist Chrystal E. Williams has been seen gracing the stage both nationally and internationally. Current and recent engagements include NEFERTITI Akhnaten LA Opera (cv), English National Opera (UK), and performances with Birmingham Opera Company (UK), Opera North (UK), Bard SummerScape, Dayton Opera and On Site Opera. Recent seasons include AURELIA BROWDER in the world premiere of Jasmine Arielle Barnes’/Deborah D.e.e.p. Mouton’s SHE WHO DARED Chicago Opera Theater, ROSINA Il Barbiere di Siviglia Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and a return to The Metropolitan Opera for productions of Carmen and El Niño. Williams makes her Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam debut as NEFERTITI in Akhnaten, as well as a dream recital debut of Schubert’s Winterreise at Chicago’s Guarneri Hall. 

Her ingenuity and gifts have been acknowledged by numerous organizations, including the Classical Post, the Musical Fund Society (Career Grant Award 2020), International Opera Awards, and The First Prize and Audience Choice Award winner at the 2014 Wilhelm Stenhammar International Music Competition in Sweden. She founded the Chrystal E. Williams Scholarship, now in its twenty-third year, in 2004 to help students wishing to pursue a career in the performing arts. Her annual concert, An Evening with Chrystal E., will be held Fall 2026 in Norfolk, VA. 

(Please refer to the duo as Forrópera for all press and promotional materials. Printed programs should identify the duo as Forrópera in addition to performer names.) 

Forrópera • forropera@gmail.com