In this photo of the Quinteto Contrapunto appear, from left to right, Marina Auristela Guanche, Mariela Valladares, Jesús Sevillano, Domingo Mendoza, and Rafael Suárez.

Some time ago, a dear friend suggested that I write about the members of the "Quinteto Contrapunto".

For most, the members of "Contrapunto" (as I will refer to this magnificent group in this writing) have been those who appear in the five discographic volumes of the group. However, there were other members who were little known or not known at all who at some point were part of the quintet. In this specific case, I will refer to the members of the "original" Quinteto Contrapunto, that is, the group that existed from 1962 to 1971. Although some members of the original "Contrapunto" reunited after many years, we must consider this stage separately. Therefore, it is not the subject of this writing.

When "Contrapunto" was formed, the founding members were Aída Navarro (mezzo-soprano), Morella Muñoz (mezzo-soprano), Jesús Sevillano (tenor), Domingo Mendoza (bass), and Rafael Suárez (baritone, cuatrista, arranger, and director).

Shortly after the quintet was formed, Morella Muñoz had to travel to Europe to attend previously acquired professional commitments, so Gloris López (mezzo-soprano), a member of the Orfeón Universitario of the Universidad Central de Venezuela and a student of Economics at that university, joined the group to fill Morella's absence. From Gloris López's time with the quintet, we can find records in the first discographic volume of the quintet, as she participated in three of the pieces included in it: Maracaibera, Amalia Rosa, and Flor de Loto. She also participated in the group's first national tour. When Morella Muñoz returned to Venezuela, she rejoined the quintet.

In this photo -until now little known of "Contrapunto"- we see (from left to right) Glóris López, Aída Navarro, Rafael Suárez (seated), Domingo Mendoza, and Jesús Sevillano.

Rafael Suárez feels a bit limited by the fact that the two female voices of "Contrapunto" are mezzo-sopranos and decides there is a need to replace one of them with a soprano. Thus, Marina Auristela Guanche enters, who took singing lessons with Prof. Lidia Butturini de Panaro, the same singing teacher of Morella Muñoz. This expands the range that the higher voice of the quintet can reach, allowing for greater flexibility in the arrangements. This change in the components can be observed over the next three albums (vol. 2, vol. 3, and vol. 4), in which the members remain stable. This brings us to 1965 when "Contrapunto" undertook their European tour, achieving great success in England, Italy, among other places visited. Upon returning from that tour, Morella Muñoz decided to leave the quintet.

During the time after the tour -and perhaps the least known in the history of "Contrapunto"- is when we see some members little or not at all known to the majority participating. It was also a quieter time for the quintet, as their first 3 or 4 years of existence had been whirlwind-like: 4 LPs recorded, a European tour, not to mention the multiple performances across the country. During this stage, mezzo-soprano Mariela Valladares and mezzo-soprano Elvira Yajure joined "Contrapunto". Fortunately, there are photos of the quintet with Mariela Valladares as a member (one of them).

From left to right, we see Jesús Sevillano, Mariela Valladares, Marina Auristela Guanche, Domingo Mendoza, and Rafael Suárez.

Both Mariela and Elvira did not stay long in the quintet, and Otilia Rodríguez, a former member of the group "Los Pájaros," famous at that time, joined. Otilia's collaborations are recorded in volume 5 of the quintet, the last of its discographic production.

At the end of 1970, Domingo Mendoza left the quintet -we have never been able to specify the reasons- and bass Efraín Arteaga (now with a long career as a choral director, composer, and arranger) joined the group. Efraín was part of the group during the last 9 months of its existence. The last formation of "Contrapunto" is shown in the following photograph.

From left to right, we observe, in this presentation of the Quinteto Contrapunto on "Sabado Espectacular" by RCTV, Marina Auristela Guanche, Otilia Rodríguez, Efraín Arteaga, Jesús Sevillano, and Rafael Suárez.

The following members of the Quinteto Contrapunto are no longer with us:

• Rafael Suárez (†September 30, 1971)

• Morella Muñoz (†July 15, 1995)

• Domingo Mendoza (†September 3, 2014)

• Mariela Valladares (†November 6, 2022)

• Marina Auristela Guanche (†December 14, 2024)