Néstor Mesta Chayres (or Chaires; February 26, 1908 – June 29, 1971) was an acclaimed tenor in Mexico and a noted interpreter of Spanish songs, boleros and Mexican romantic music on the international concert stage. He was widely commended for his artistic renditions of the works of Agustín Lara and María Grever and was nicknamed "El Gitano de México" ("The Mexican Gypsy").Biographies - Egly Hill Marin First - Nestor Mesta Chayres - Méjico Biography of Nestor Mesta Chayres by Egly Colina Marín oneglycolinamarinprimera.blogspot.com
Biography Néstor Mesta Chayres was born to Florentino Mesta and Juana Chayres in a family which included six additional children: Juanita, María Luisa, Herminia, Óscar, Jesús and Margarita in the city of Lerdo, Mexico. His initial studies in music were provided by a local teacher and an organist at the parish church. Even as a child he showed promise as an operatic singer.Nestor Mesta Chayres Biography - Chayres as a young promising operatic singer in "The Encyclopedia of Latin American Music in New York". Figueroa, Frank M. Pillar Publications, St. Petersburg, FL. September 1, 1994, p. 80 on https://books.google.com In his youth, he was also known to sing to a recording of Caro Nome from Giuseppe Verdi's opera Rigoletto. While still in high school, he exhibited an exceptional vocal aptitude which earned him several awards. After the death of his father in 1925, he earned a scholarship to the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City. His studies included instructions in music theory, harmony, counterpoint, and voice with Lambert Castañeros - who had performed at La Scala in Milan, Italy.El Siglo de Torréon - Néstor Mesta Cháyres Biography on elsiglodetorreon.com
Néstor's professional career began in the artistic center of the Mexican capital in 1929 performing songs of Jorge del Moral and Agustín Lara at the Bolivár Amphitheater at the National Preparatory School. Soon he achieved success on the radio station X.E.B. in Mexico City, where he continued to perform for four years. By 1933 he launched a concert tour with the pianist Jorge del Moral to Havana, Cuba where he performed the waltz Divina Mujer at various theaters. He also appeared in three gala concerts for the President of the Republic during his two-month tour on the island. After returning to Mexico City in 1934, he also recorded several songs including Morena (Jorge del Moral).
By the early 1940s, Cháyres had achieved extensive notoriety throughout Mexico. He soon collaborated with the Sypmphony Orchestra of Mexico in a concert at the prestigious Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City in 1943. This set the stage for Néstor's debut in New York City on the radio for WABC under the direction of Andre Kostelanetz and a subsequent concert with the Philadelphia Orchestra.Andre Kostelanetz On Records and On the Air - A Discography and Radio Log North, James A. The Scarecrow Press Inc. Lanham, UK, 2011 p. 341 Nestor Chayres performs with Andre Kostelanetz in "The Pause That Refreshes on the Air" on WABC 11/29/1943 on https://books.google.comThe Billboard - In Short - Mexico City - Nestor Chayres and Andre Kostelanetz The Billboard, January 1, 1944 p. 23Music of the Two Americas - The pause that refreshes on the air - CBS Radio broadcasts by Andre Kostelanetz including Néstor Chayres in 1943 on worldcat.orgOn the air: plus Gypsy Songs - radio broadcast by Andre Kostelanetz Orchestra with Néstor Chayres and Ethel Smith (1946) on worldcat.org As a distinguished opera vocalist, Chayres was also invited by the CBS network to collaborate with the contralto Tona la Negra and Andre Kostelanetz conducting the Mexican Symphony Orchestra in a special Easter Sunday broadcast as supervised by the OIAA (Office of Inter-American Affairs) of the United States Department of State.Nestor Mesta Chayres - mexican opera singer with contralto Tona La Negra, conductor Andre Kostelanetz and the Mexican Symphony Orchestra in "Media, Sound and Culture in Latin America and the Caribbean" Editors- Alejandra Bronfman and Andrew Grant Wood. University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA, 2012, p. 51 on https://books.google.com In the early 1940s he also concertized regularly at the Havana Madrid night club in New York to the acclaim of critics.The Billboard - Night Club Reviews - Havana Madrid New York - Critical review of Nestor Chaires' performance in "The Billboard" January 1, 1944 p. 20 on https://books.google.comThe Billboard - Night Club Reviews - Havana Madrid New York - Critical review of Nestor Chayres performance in The Billboard May 25, 1946 p. 53
Cháyres joined the staff at the Columbia Broadcasting System within CBS Radio's La Cadena de las Américas in 1943 under the musical direction of Alfredo Antonini as a featured soloist on the radio program Viva América while collaborating with the accordionist John Serry Sr.Media Sound & Culture in Latin America. Editors: Bronfman, Alejanda & Wood, Andrew Grant. University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 2012, Pg. 49 Media Sound & Culture in Latin America. Editors: Bronfman, Alejanda & Wood, Andrew Grant. Nestor Mesta Chayres, Alfredo Antonini, Viva America performing for CBS on https://books.google.comNestor Chayres - Radio Caracas ORK Victor 23-0956 "Viva America" & Nestor Chayres in The Billboard October 30, 1948 p. 106 on https://books.google.com and the vocalist Manolita Arriola.Photograph of Nestor Chayres and Manolita Arriola on Viva America for CBS Radio in 1946 He continued to collaborate with Antonini on additional live radio broadcasts for Voice of America and the Department of State's Office of International Broadcasting and Cultural Affairs in subsequent years. These performances were also broadcast overseas for the benefit of the members of America's armed forces personnel during World War IINestor Mesta Chayres and records of Alfredo Antonini 1949 on "The Directory of the Armed Forces Radio Service Series" Editor Harry Mackenzie. Greenwood Press, CT. 1999 p. 33 on https://books.google.com In addition, they helped to introduce Latin American music and the Mexican bolero to large audiences throughout the United States during the 1940s.Media Sound & Culture in Latin America. Editors: Bronfman, Alejanda & Wood, Andrew Grant. University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 2012, Pg. 49 Media Sound & Culture in Latin America. Editors: Bronfman, Alejanda & Wood, Andrew Grant. Nestor Mesta Chayres, Alfredo Antonini, CBS Latin American music on https://books.google.com Several recordings of boleros were also produced in collaboration with Antonini and his orchestra during this time on Decca Records including: Noche de Ronda (23770 B) and Granada (23770 A). Archived record albums with Alfredo Antonini for Decca Records and Orchestra of the Radio Caracas, Isidor Handler for RCA Victor Records - Performances by Nestor Mesta Chayres on Archive.org His recordings in both North and South America for RCA Victor from this period featured collaborations with the Orquesta Radio Caracas and the Orquesta Gonzalo Cervera.Nestor Chayres - Radio Caracas ORK Victor 23-0956 Record Review of Nestor Chayres in The Billboard October 30, 1948 p. 106 on https://books.google.com They included: Princesita (# 90-0595-A), Todo Mi Ser (# 90-0595-B), Manolete (# 23-0853-A) and Silverio (#20-0853-B). Archived record albums with Alfredo Antonini for Decca Records and Orchestra of the Radio Caracas, Isidor Handler for RCA Victor Records - Performances by Nestor Mesta Chayres on Archive.org
Néstor also performed regularly on the NBC radio network during this time. He first concertized at the historic Town Hall in New York City in 1945 and returned for a repeat performance three years later.Critical reviews of Nestor Chayres in performance at Town Hall in Music Reporter on https://books.google.com Subsequently, he collaborated once again with Alfredo Antonini conducting the New York Philharmonic for a gala Night of the Americas concert at Carnegie Hall in 1946.The New York Times May 12, 1946 p. 42"Nestor Chayres Singing Romantic Songs of Latin America With Alfredo Antonini and his Concert Orchestra" (Decca, A-507, 1946) See biographical notes on album cover. on Archive.org
Based upon these achievements, an extensive array of international concerts emerged which included an appearance with the Montreal Philharmonic Orchestra in Canada in 1946.The Billboard - Montreal Plans Big Concert Season; 1st Pulls Over 10,000 Critical review of Nestor Chayres and the Montreal Philharmonic in "The Billboard" June 29, 1946 p. 3 on https://books.google.com While concertizing in South America he performed in Peru, Columbia, Venezuela, Chile and Argentina. He also returned to Mexico to perform for President Miguel Alemán Valdés in 1947 and was also featured in May 1947 at a reception held for President Aleman at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. In 1949 he joined forces with the Chicago Opera House and concertized throughout Europe in France, Sweden, Holland, Norway, Denmark, England and Spain.Como artista de la Chicago Ópera House, en 1949, viaja por Europa en gira de conciertos por España, Francia, Holanda, Noruega, Suecia, Dinamarca e Inglaterra - i.e. Nestor Mesta Chayres joins the Chicago Opera House Co. in 1949 and concertizes in Spain, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and EnglandNestor Mesta Chayres was one of the few popular artists to be represented by the office of Sol Hurok and tours countries like ...Holland, Norway, Sweden and Finland from "Biographies Egly Marin First - Nestor Mesta Chayres" on translate.google.com During this time Chayres was represented by the prestigious impresario Sol Hurok"Nestor Mesta Chayres was one of the few popular artists to be represented by the office of Sol Hurok" from "Biographies Egly Marin First - Nestor Mesta Chayres" on translate.google.com In Madrid, he performed the Seven Songs of Manuel de Falla to great acclaim. His final tour in the United States and Canada was completed in 1950. Upon returning to Mexico City, he married his wife Peggy Satanon who "discovered" Cháyres during a recital at the Palace of Fine Arts.
In 1951, Néstor's artistic career was interrupted by the tragic death of his mother in an automobile accident. Cháyres suspended his concert appearances for over ten years but did appear in the movie Cuando me vaya in 1954 in collaboration with the such as actors as Libertad Lamarque, Miguel Torruco, Julián de Meriche and fellow vocalists Juan Arvizu and Alfonso Ortiz Tirado.O Gande Amor De maria Grever - Cuando me Vaya - featuring Néstor Chayres - see opening credits on archive.org This film biography of the Mexican songwriter María Grever earned two Ariel Awards in Mexico in 1955.Cuando me vaya - Awards on imdb.com He returned to television in 1968 for an appearance in the Paco Malgesto Hour and in 1969 on The Golden Hour of the W. His final appearance on television occurred in 1970 on the show 24 Hours.
Performance style