La Catrina returns for Pro Musica concerts
By B. K. Lake July 7, 2006

“In spite of the youthfulness of this group of three Mexican-born musicians and one New Yorker with Puerto Rican parents, their playing already ranks with the highest caliber quartets one hears today,” said George Bell, a member of Pro Musica’s board and a former concert violinist. The all-Latin La Catrina String Quartet literally returns by popular demand for the final concerts of the season July 15 and 16 in the San Miguel el Grande Pro Musica series.

"Our audiences were ‘blown away’ by the quality of the performances of La Catrina in January, and we prevailed upon them to return quickly,” said Pro Musica president Russ Archibald.

Accompanying La Catrina is Cuban-born clarinetist Alfredo Valdés-Brito Hoyos, who emigrated to Mexico in 1992, and since 1994 has been a professor with the Conservatorio de las Rosas and is a founding member of the Ensamble de las Rosas in Morelia. He is also a member of the Orquesta Clásica de México and of the Sinfonieta. In 1997, he performed with the Ensamble de las Rosas at the Festival de Música de Cámara de San Miguel de Allende.

“The two completely different programs are very exciting,” Archibald said, “featuring Shostakovich, with one of his most demanding quartets, and a perennial favorite by Mozart, his only clarinet quintet, that will showcase Valdés-Brito in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the year of Mozart’s birth.” 

The opening concert, July 15, includes Mozart’s “String Quartet in C Major, Dissonant”; Shostakovich’s “String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor” and Revueltas’ “String Quartet No. 4, Música de Feria.”

On July 16, Valdés-Brito and La Catrina present Mozart’s “Quintet in A Major for Clarinet and Strings.” 

The program also features Von Webern’s “Lansamersatz,” written in 1905, and Janson’s “Angelwings, Second String Quartet,” composed 100 years later.

Three of the La Catrina players were born in Mexico. Alan Daowz Mendez, cello, and Daniel Vega-Albela, violin, are from Mexico City, and Jorge Martinez, viola, was born in Torreón. George Anthony Figueroa, violin, is from New York.

Founded in 2001 at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, the quartet took its name from the diva of death in Mexican folklore, which tells that “with her mischievous smile pleads with us to seize the moment and through music, and dance as well, to find life’s meaning.” Quartet members are completing a master’s degree in chamber music performance at Kent State University in Ohio, where the Miami String Quartet serves on the faculty.

Both concerts will start at 5pm at St. Paul’s Church, Cardo 6. Tickets for 150 and 50 pesos will be available after July 7 at La Conexión, Aldama 3; Sierra Nevada Hotel reception desk, Hospicio 46; Casa de Papel, Mesones 57; and Ann Grace Dress Shop, Gigante Arcade, Local BC31, Plaza Real del Conde. 

Tickets also will be sold in the Jardín July 13, 14 and 15 between 11am and 2pm, at the St. Paul’s church office, weekdays 11am to 2 pm, and at the door one hour before concert time. To reserve tickets call 152-0387 weekdays between 11am and 2pm.

Pro Musica Concerts with La Catrina
Saturday and Sunday, July 15 & 16, 5pm
St. Paul’s Church, Cardo 6, 150/50 pesos



Plans for National Concert Opera Company of Mexico
By Bruce Rossley

Originally formed as the Concert Opera Company of San Miguel (COSMA), the company has evolved into the National Concert Opera Company of Mexico (NCOCM). The company has attracted, from throughout Mexico, national and international artists in the opera and classical music world. San Miguel de Allende remains the permanent home of the company, and NCOCM is currently building a state-of-the-art, 900-seat theater that will be known as the San Miguel Opera House.

Current plans call for all productions to begin in San Miguel de Allende and then tour the country once the opera house is complete. The company will begin a national tour this September.

The leadership of the National Concert Opera Company of Mexico is composed of individuals experienced in presenting opera in Mexico, the United States and Canada. The 11 opera singers currently in the company’s Resident Artists Program are some of the finest in North America.

Susan Weiss, a Canadian citizen, serves as managing director and executive producer of the company and is a resident of San Miguel. Weiss has many years of experience in the production of opera, ballet and symphony orchestras in Canada, Europe, Asia, the United States and Mexico. Among her many achievements, she served as producer of the spectacle opera production of Aida, with a cast of thousands. She was responsible for the European, Asian, Canadian and Mexican tour of Aida, which attracted, in Mexico City alone, audiences totaling 90,000 people. She was so successful in this venture that she was asked to produce Luciano Pavarotti when he presented a concert at Chichen Itza for an audience of 10,000 to benefit Mayan children.

Bruce Rossley, who serves as President and Executive Producer of NCOCM, was Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for the City of Boston for 15 years and now lives in San Miguel. He has served on the boards of several opera companies in the United States and headed America’s largest arts advocacy organization. He was also responsible for the 38-million-dollar renovation of the Boston Opera House and directed the building of a number of theaters in the US and Europe.

The artistic director of the National Concert Opera Company is Wayne Rivera, who is the founder and artistic director emeritus of the Connecticut Concert Opera Company. He is a well-known operatic tenor who has sung as a member of the company of several opera companies in Italy, Germany and Switzerland. In addition, he sang with the Metropolitan Studio Opera Company, touring 25 countries as a soloist with this company.

Eduardo Álvarez, the newly appointed music director and conductor of NCOCM, is one of the most well-respected conductors in Mexico. Maestro Álvarez is the founder and music director of the Acapulco Philharmonic. He frequently guest-conducts orchestras in Europe, Latin America and the US. Álvarez commented on his appointment as music director of the NCOCM: “this new opera company is about creating a place to foster and present magnificent Mexican singers and orchestras. It’s a way in which all San Miguel de Allende residents can enhance their quality of life by supporting this excellent Mexican talent at their future performances at the San Miguel Opera House.”

Mexican soprano Violeta Dávalos has been appointed as the director of the resident artists program. Dávalos is considered one of the finest operatic sopranos in Mexico today. A finalist in the Luciano Pavarotti competition, she has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York and with many opera companies and orchestras in Mexico and Latin America. She commented on her appointment, “It is indeed wonderful to be a part of this new company that will provide Mexican opera singers the opportunity once afforded me at the beginning of my career—my operatic debut singing the title role in Aida, performing with an international cast from the United States, Europe, Canada and Mexico.”

Ana Isabel Cooper is the vice president of the National Concert Opera Company of Mexico. She has worked extensively on theater projects in Mexico and Latin America. She is currently assisting on the Markham Theater project in Lima, Peru, as well as coordinating and supervising the theatrical installations of the new San Miguel Opera House.


“Sancho Panza de Cabeza” anniversary Fest

Tuesday evenings XESQ, Radio San Miguel (1280 AM), offers “Sancho Panza de Cabeza” to its listeners. Its four hosts—Carmen Rioja, Yolanda Lacarieri, Isaac Toporek and Jorge Coro—are not literary experts, but they are avid readers and promoters of reading. The show’s format is informal, similar to a conversation among friends at a coffee shop. Each week, a book is discussed and music related to the book’s theme is played.

Next Friday the show celebrates with Latin music by Mayahuel, readings and theater. See the full story next week.

Mayahuel in concert anniversary celebration of Sancho Panza de Cabeza 
Friday,  July 14,  7pm,  Bellas Artes, 70 pesos