Forropera

Featured Gala Performer – American Composers Orchestra
2023-10-25 | PA
ACO invites you to kick off the 2023-24 season with us at our 2023 Gala & Creative Catalyst Awards, a joyful celebration of the music and culture of the Americas honoring three visionary leaders – Paquito D’Rivera, Dr. Indira Etwaroo, and Edward Yim – who exemplify our core values of artistry, creativity, community, and equity.Meet rising stars of tomorrow over a caipirinha at the bar. Discover new sounds with NYC’s most culturally curious. Make lifelong connections through the one-of-a-kind communal dining experience that is Brazilian churrasco. And, because it’s a party after all, bring out your most creative festive attire!
Save the date and join us for a night featuring music by composer & saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera, soprano Chrystal E. Williams, forró musician Felipe Hostins, composer Raquel Acevedo Klein, and sound artist Chris Kallmyer, among others, and a fabulous dinner. Founded in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Fogo de Chão’s interactive tableside service features fire roasted meats, fish, and vegan/vegetarian entrees alongside Fogo’s signature Market Table spread inspired by the farms of Southern Brazil where family and friends gather to share the finest and freshest from their harvests.We look forward to welcoming you for an evening of enthralling performances, sparkling company, and delicious food, while supporting the expansion of ACO’s national EarShot composer advancement programs, orchestral performances, and educational initiatives.

Featured in An Evening with Chrystal E.
2023-10-13
The Chrystal E. Williams Scholarship was founded in 2004 because it was realized that there was a need to help students wishing to pursue a career in the performing arts. It is my hope and dream that in the future young performers will not have to concern themselves with funding for school but will only have to concern themselves with perfecting their talent and sharing God’s gift with the rest of the world. It is also my hope that more young performers from the area will come to know that there are people who support them and their budding careers.
-Chrystal E. Williams-
For more information or to donate, email aneveningwithchrystale@gmail.com.

Featured ‘Black Heritage Day-An Afro Classical Experience Festival’ Performers – Greensboro Opera
2023-06-10
Music was an important part of life for Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown. To honor her birthday, we’re hosting Black Heritage Day! Join us to listen to local musicians and a very special performance by Chrystal E. Williams and Felipe Hostins, enjoy food from local Black owned food trucks, and take a stroll through our Black owned vendor market. There will be activity stations for kids and art!

In Recital – Allegro Music Consultants
2023-05-19 - 2023-05-23, 2022-08-21
Husband and Wife Duo, Forrópera, share their genre bending musical ingenuity and joy with surrounding communities

In Residence (Community Engagement) – Astral Artists
2023-05-17 - 2023-05-18
Husband and Wife Duo, Forrópera, bring world class performances to classrooms and beyond; helping young and old alike use music as a way of expression and growth. Their unique educational programs incorporate arias, songs, as well as Brazilian folk rhythms.

In Recital – Astral Artists
2023-05-16, 2018-12-10, 2018-01-29
Husband and Wife Duo, Forrópera, share their genre bending musical ingenuity and joy with surrounding communities.

In Residence – Allegro Music Consultants
2023-05-02

In Concert – Allegro Music Consultants
2022-09-18
Husband & Wife Duo, Forrópera, share their genre bending musical ingenuity and joy with at the Community Together celebration held in Washington Square Park (Philadelphia, PA).

Featured in An Evening with Chrystal E. 2022
2022-09-16
The Chrystal E. Williams Scholarship was founded in 2004 because it was realized that there was a need to help students wishing to pursue a career in the performing arts. It is my hope and dream that in the future young performers will not have to concern themselves with funding for school but will only have to concern themselves with perfecting their talent and sharing God’s gift with the rest of the world. It is also my hope that more young performers from the area will come to know that there are people who support them and their budding careers.
For more information or to donate, email aneveningwithchrystale@gmail.com.

In Recital – Allegro Music Consultants
2022-01-21, 2019-09-20 - 2019-09-22

Featured in An Evening with Chrystal E. 2020 (Digital)
2021-06-04, 2020-06-26

Forrópera Experiência Premiere – Esperanza Arts Center and Astral Artists
2021-05-07
Esperanza Arts Center presents a special live-streamed staged world premiere in partnership with Astral Artists featuring Brazilian forró music, opera, dance, and storytelling traditions, as part of Voces 2021. Building on the sound of Forrópera, co-created by Chrystal E. Williams (mezzo- soprano) and Felipe Hostins (accordion), Forrópera Experiência combines Brazilian Forró music, Opera, Dance, and Storytelling. In partnership with Astral, Esperanza Arts Center and Esperanza Academy, this performance features original stageworks created and performed by the Esperanza Academy Dance Ensemble, Esperanza Academy visual arts students, Ms. Williams, Mr. Hostins, Gabe Hall-Rodrigues (accordion), Davi Vieira (zabumba) and Tania Y. Ramos Otón (choreography). This unique production culminates a season-long residency with the artists and Esperanza Academy students, focusing on artistic expression and the co-creative process.

In Recital – Opera Delaware/Baltimore Concert Opera
2021-02-07 - 2021-02-10
Welcome to Forrópera, the wonderful world of husband/wife duo Chrystal E. Williams (mezzo- soprano) and Felipe Hostins (accordionist), where opera, Broadway, and Brazilian folk music exuberantly collide, bringing you a musical experience like no other—all with the couple’s genre-bending style to “foster unity, understanding, and peace through music”. Join us for an exciting musical tour around the world from the comfort of home with this exclusive digital recital!

In Recital – Kaufman Music Center
2021-01-26
Kaufman Music Center brought live music back to NYC’s Upper West Side with a pop-up concert series with 107 performances featuring 202 of our city’s finest performers, including chamber musicians, soloists, Broadway stars from Hamilton, Tootsie and Company, and
artists from the Merkin Hall stage. More than 30K passers-by enjoyed the performances. Presented in partnership with the Alphadyne Foundation, Musical Storefronts provided work to artists severely impacted by the cancellation of live performances in a format that took into account all necessary health and safety measures for both artists and audiences.

In Recital – Allegro Music Consultants (Kimberton, PA)
2020-09-25

In Recital (Isolating Together Series, Digital) – Allegro Music Consultants
2020-07-15
Husband and Wife Duo, Forrópera, help bring people together and spread hope during COVID
with their genre bending musical ingenuity and persevering joy.

In Recital (Quarantine Connection Series, Digital) – Allegro Music Consultants
2020-06-02

In Residence (Reaching Out with Virtual Opera, Digital) – Allegro Music Consultants
2020-05-14

In Residence (digital) – Allegro Music Consultants
2020-03-30

In Residence – Astral Artists
2019-05-06 - 2019-05-13, 2017-02-13 - 2017-02-15

Featured in THEIR VOICES LIVE ON – Astral Artists
2018-02-11
THEIR VOICES LIVE ON | Chrystal E. Williams’ Astral Artists Debut Recital
“When asked to present this recital, I knew I wanted it to represent more than just an afternoon of music. I wanted it to be a voice for the voiceless, hope for the hopeless, strength for the weakened. No, not literally; but this is the power of music-to take us someplace else and encourage and free us to be and do better. I chose music about groups of people (ridiculed, despised, suppressed, oppressed) to which we, the world, can all relate. Music is my language and through it I hope to share this gift that God has given me with all of you!
I asked Felipe Hostins if he would compose a piece for me relating to his beloved Brazil. His inspiration was the strength of the Brazilian people, their necessity to migrate in order to sustain their families, along with the price they pay in order to do this; some of them spending decades without seeing their loved ones. His inspiration was also his hope to rally his fellow Brazilians and remind them that no matter what the political situation may be, the strength they inherited has already reinvigorated them and the fight for justice and all things good has already begun!
You may notice a bit of a dance theme throughout. When Astral told me this would be my Philadelphia debut recital and that it was to represent me, I thought to myself, it must have dancing! Dance has always been a huge part of my life, beginning with my mother, who always told us where there’s a will there’s a way and that we need not conform to the norm for we are not normal! She attended every single one of my performances that she was physically able to attend. She never made it to Philadelphia. I dance in her memory; though perhaps not as graceful, full of heart.”
-Chrystal E. Williams-

In Recital – Astral Artists
2017-02-14
Husband and Wife Duo, Forrópera, share their genre bending musical ingenuity and joy with surrounding communities. Featured guest, Davi Vieira – Percussion
