Independent Festival
of Classical Guitar
José María Obeso
Mon, July 13, 5pm
Guillermo A. Ra
Tues, July 14, 5pm
Oscar Velázquez
Wed, July 15, 5pm
Duo Aire Criollo
Thurs, July 16, 5pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Bibliotec Pública
Insurgentes 25
Each concert 125 pesos
Etienne Rojas
Fri, July 17, 8pm
Jardin Principal’s kiosk
Free
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Independent guitar festival
By Krishna Villena
Teatro Santa Ana is the setting for the Independent Festival of Classical Guitar, where young and talented Mexican guitarists offer musical delights. The free closing concert is in the Jardin’s kiosk.
The founder and organizer of this festival is guitarist Guillermo A. Ra., who talked to Atención about his main motivations and the obstacles he had to overcome to accomplish the realization of this event in San Miguel. “The promotion of art and culture in its various manifestations is very important. This festival originates with the idea of generating more spaces for those young guitarists in Mexico who are looking for a place where they can express their talents.”
Without a doubt, it hasn’t been easy for Guillermo, and he has had to address problems which, for a moment, seemed to prevent the realization of his project. “The first contact I made was with the local government, because the idea was to do the festival as a whole, but I don’t know why I never heard from them. Despite my disappointment, the idea of an independent festival occurred to me.”
Then he approached the director of the Culture and Education Department, Verónica Agundis. “She told me they could help by acquiring the kiosk for the event, so people can enjoy the music for free,” said Guillermo.
José María Obeso opens the festival on July 13. Born in Guamúchil, Sinaloa, he started playing the guitar at age 11 with the professor Cesáreo Martínez Tavizón. His repertoire ranges from chamber music for guitar to concerts for guitar and orchestra. Currently he’s studying music and humanities at the Las Rosas Conservatory in Morelia, where he also teaches guitar classes in the introductory music workshops.
Performing on July 14 is Guillermo Asencio R. (also known as Guillermo A. Ra.). He was born in 1983, and since childhood has experimented with the sensation of the strings in his fingers. He completed his studies at the Escuela Popular de Bellas Artes in his hometown of Pátzcuaro, Michoacán. The expression of his chords comes to life on his first record, Sueños, where he celebrates the results of his studies and systematic practice of classical guitar.
Oscar Velázquez comes from Mexico City but has lived in Morelia since 1987. His path as an artist encompasses music, visual arts and poetry. Currently he is working on his concert for qualification for a music degree, with specialization in classical guitar in the Las Rosas Conservatory. He performs on July 15.
El Dúo Aire Criollo is set to perform on July 16. Graduates of Las Rosas Conservatory, Etienne Rojas, 26, and Óscar Velázquez, 28, create a diversity of styles and works that are born from the Latin American voices and rhythms, with the characteristic sounds of classical guitar. Their repertoire includes musical genres such as tango, the guaguancó, the son, the waltz and the choro.
Finally, Etienne Rojas, who is from Acapulco, performs on July 17 in the Jardín Principal’s kiosk. At his young age he already has lived in Havana, where he was musically instructed by maestros Ahmed Dickingson and Alejandro González, and has participated in different ensembles of traditional and Latin American music. His current studies are for the degree in classical guitar within the Las Rosas Conservatory under the tutelage of teacher Eva Pleskova.
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Rock Concert
Receta Mortal
Fri, Jul 17, 8pm
Villas Xichú
Camino Real a Xichú 9
Valle de Maíz
180 pesos
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Rock to make you feel better By José Luis de la Hoz |
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Receta Mortal (Killer Prescription) is a musical group, formed mostly by doctors, that gets its kicks interpreting music from the sixties, seventies and eighties. They have been together for seven years, rehearsing just one day a week—frequently interrupted by an emergency call. Nevertheless, they make the most of things to keep going and give their best effort to interpret the music they grew up with.
On bass is Dr. Ernesto Villagómez Salazar, associate of Hospital de la Fe, former mayor of San Miguel de Allende, former director of the general hospital, and above all, an avid fan of the music of earlier years. Dr. Hugo Rosas Hernández, gynecologist and associate of Hospital de la Fe, known and loved for the professionalism he shows in his work, accompanies on guitar and vocals. Dr. Jorge Álvarez de la Cadena Sillas, cardiologist, member of Hospital de la Fe’s staff of doctors as well as the Heart Institute in the city of Querétaro, is lead singer and accompanies on keyboard. Licentiate José Luis de la Hoz Contreras, business administrator, former director of Economic Development and Tourism for San Miguel de Allende, and current administrator of Hospital de la Fe, plays drums and provides backup vocals. Licentiate Aarón Romo Medina, graphic designer and professional musician, directs the group, plays lead guitar and sings accompanying vocals.
Receta Mortal has performed with professional groups like the Hermanos Carrión and has participated in countless popular events. They are a favorite group among sanmiguelenses since, even though they aren’t professional musicians, they have developed the right skills to interpret the music of their times, making their performances hard to forget.
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Chamber Music Festival XXXI
Wed–Sun, Aug 5–16
Teatro Ángela Peralta
Mesones 82
US$10 balcony/$26 orchestra/$33 box;
season $212.50/$272; half-season $130
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Exploring from the Baroque to the contemporary By Ken Morrow |
The annual San Miguel summer Chamber Music Festival presents 14 concerts in 11 days this year, providing a special opportunity to expand your understanding and enjoyment of the music.
In 11 days, the festival spans the history of chamber music from the Baroque period through all of the “classical” genres, exploring the twentieth century and into the twenty-first, allowing you to experience the continuing evolution of chamber music through major milestones in the repertoire as interpreted by some of the great performers of our day. This year more than half of the pieces to be performed have never been heard in previous festivals.
From the Baroque period, the Borromeo String Quartet—one of two Cleveland Quartet Award winners to appear this season—will perform Bach’s famous Passacaglia and Fugue as transcribed for string quartet by their first violinist Nicholas Kitchen.
Some of the great masterpieces of the classical era will be heard, including Haydn’s Quinten (“Fifths”) quartet performed by the Chávez Quartet, Mozart’s String Quartet No. 19 in C major (“Dissonance”) by the Haven and Beethoven’s Opus 131 by the Borromeo quartet.
From the Romantic period, the Jupiter String Quartet—the second Cleveland winners—will bring us the Mendelssohn String Quartet No. 2, Opus 13, and Schumann’s magnificent Piano Quintet. The Chávez Quartet will perform Brahms’ String Quartet in A minor, Op. 51, No. 2. Music of the twentieth century will be explored through 18 tonally melodic works written between 1914 and 1999, confirming that this music is not all dissonant and inaccessible. Among them you will hear Ravel’s beautiful Duo for Violin and Cello, No. 1, the Cuarteto de acros I by the Mexican master Carlos Chávez, three of Hindemith’s wind sonatas, two of the pivotal Shostakovich quartets and a study of eight tangos by the great Argentinian master, Ástor Piazzola.
Although the twenty-first century is not quite nine years old, the festival presents eight works by seven living composers, all but one of these works written since the year 2000, and three world premieres written in the months just prior to this year’s festival. These new works will include the third quartet by the young German composer Lera Auerbach, the world premiere of a Piano Trio by the Italian Lelio Di Tullio, three works by the contemporary Mexican composers Leonardo Coral, Emmanuel Arias y Luna and Jorge Córdoba as well as works by the Americans Sydney Hodkinson and René Clausen. The Córdoba and the Clausen pieces are also world premieres and the Hodkinson is a Mexico premiere.
This juxtaposition over a short time period also allows you to compare and contrast compositions by different composers and their performances by different groups. You will be able to survey four of Haydn’s quartets spanning the entire breadth of his career from the early Opus 9, no. 2 through Opus 76, no. 4, from the last full set he produced, as well as four of Beethoven’s quartets, again from his first Opus 18 through his late Opus 131.
The curious listener will be able to compare Papa Haydn’s brilliant late Quartet No. 63 (“Sunrise”) with the young upstart Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 6, written as a challenge to it three years later. Then compare the senior Beethoven’s late quartet Opus 131 with the youthful Mendelssohn’s early String Quartet No. 2, Opus 13, written in emulation of it just one year later.
You will hear the transformation of sacred choral music through a comparison of Mozart’s “Laudate Dominum” of 1780 with the world premiere of René Clausen’s “Prayer,” written over 200 years later. Some of those among us will want to contrast the string quartet written in America by the Czech composer Dvořák, with a string quartet written by the quintessential American composer Charles Ives, composed just three years apart.
Finally, if the nuance of interpretive performance is your interest, the four Haydn quartets will each be performed by a different group, the four Beethovens will be alternated by the Borromeo and the Jupiter, and both the Borromeo and the Haven quartets will perform Dvořák’s American Quartet. The interpretations provide insights into what each group brings to the performance of particular compositions.
Attending this year’s festival offers a rich and exciting opportunity to hear and enjoy the beauty to be found in the long and continuing history of chamber music and to experience and explore this musical culture in all of its complexity, richness and significance.
A season pass of 10 concerts in orchestra seats is US$212.50, which also allows entrance to an additional four free concerts. Another option is the “half-season pass” for US$130 for six concerts. Tickets can be reserved and purchased online from www.festivalsanmiguel.com or purchased at the Bellas Artes office Monday–Friday, 10am–3pm (154-8722). Groups, dates and their music programs are also on the website.
Ken Morrow has served on the boards of both the Chamber Music Festival and Pro Musica.
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Choral Concert
Los Cantantes de Lago
Chorus from Ajijic
Thu, Jul 16, 7pm
Teatro Ángela Peralta
Mesones 82
100/75/50 pesos
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Great Range By Beverly Russell |
Winding up a 13-day concert tour of Central Mexico, Los Cantantes del Lago choir from Ajijic won’t overlook San Miguel. For this special concert they will sing such familiar songs as “La Bamba,” “Amazing Grace,” “Send in the Clowns,” “Shenandoah” and “Elijah Rock.”
This outstanding chorus, with a mission of artistic excellence, is quite diverse. Composed of 50 singers ranging in age from 20 to 80, its members come from Britain, Canada, France, Mexico and the US. In tune with its varied nationalities, the choir sings in many languages. Los Cantantes del Lago have a history of performing overseas. They toured Greece and Turkey in 2005, and were special guests in the Mes del Arte Festival in Quito, Ecuador, in 2007.
The group’s impressive repertoire is equally international, from classical works such as Handel’s Messiah to African-American spirituals. They perform American and English folks songs, as well as works by Mexican composers living in the state of Jalisco, their home ground.
Timothy Ruff Welch is choir director, organist, voice coach, soloist and piano accompanist. He attended graduate school at the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, concentrating on coaching and accompanying. He came to Guadalajara from Chicago, where he was a choral director, pianist and organist. He has performed in Europe, Israel and North America, and has participated in 30 recordings.
One of the choir’s objectives is the support of young musicians. The group likes to sing with young orchestras and they performed with the Golden Strings Youth Orchestra in Ajijic in 2007. Jalisco’s Secretary of Culture formally recognized Los Cantantes del Lago for this collaboration.
Given the choir’s interest in children’s education, it is fitting that proceeds from this concert will go to Centro Infantil San Pablo. The outreach program of St. Paul’s Church educates preschool children from unprivileged Mexican families.
Tickets for the concert can be purchased from the theater box office. For more information, call Adrian Ross at 120-0896.
Beverly Russell is the author of several books on the arts and sings in several of San Miguel’s choirs.
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