María Joaquina de la Portilla Torres

Composers Datebook

Synopsis

Today’s date marks the birthday in 1885 of María Joaquina de la Portilla Torres, in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. Under her married name of María Grever, she became the first female Mexican composer to achieve international fame. She composed her first song at age four, studied in France with Claude Debussy among others, and at 18, one of her songs sold 3 million copies.

At 22, she married Leo A. Grever, an American oil company executive, moved to New York City, and by the 1930s was composing for Paramount and 20th Century Fox films. Her best-known song is probably “What A Difference A Day Makes” (originally “Cuando Vuelva a tu Lado”), written in 1934. Her songs have been recorded by singers ranging from the Andrews Sisters and Frank Sinatra to Dinah Washington and Aretha Franklin to Plácido Domingo and Juan Diego Flórez.

“I am interested in jazz and modern rhythms,” Grever said, “but above all, in Mexican music … There is such a cultural richness in Mexican music, its Hispanic and indigenous origins ... It is my wish and yearning to present these native rhythms and tunes from a real perspective, but with the necessary flexibility to appeal to a universal audience.”

Music Played in Today's Program

María Grever (1885-1951): Júrame; Juan Diego Flórez, tenor; Fort Worth Symphony; Miguel Harth-Bedoya, conductor; Decca 4757576