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

The Carlos Chávez String Quartet is a group of international musicians known for their presentation of classical chamber music and at the forefront in presenting new repertory by contemporary Mexican composers.

They are also members of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Mexico City, the National Symphonic Orchestra, the Mexico City Chamber Ensemble and the Symphonic Orchestra of the University of Guanajuato


A panorama of Mexican musical talent
By Inés Roberts

As Mexico heads towards its 200th anniversary of Independence, the San Miguel Chamber Music Festival pauses to celebrate Mexico’s talented musicians and composers. San Miguel Allende and Dolores Hidalgo share the title of Mexico’s “Cradle of Independence.” It is noteworthy that San Miguel additionally has earned the title, “Cradle of Chamber Music in Mexico,” according to Alain Durbecq, the Director of the Carlos Chávez String Quartet.

Durbecq says, “Chamber musicians love San Miguel for its passionate public and the caliber of its audiences, who have supported the Chamber Music Festival over 30 years.” The international stature of the Festival, he continues “makes you feel as if you were sitting in the Alice Tully Hall in New York City, and experiencing the same high level of musical performance.”

Over the years the Festival has offered support and encouragement to a wide group of Mexican chamber music musicians and composers, and this year is no exception: the Amernet String Quartet along with the Carlos Chávez String Quartet join forces to present Mexican composer Emmanuel Arias y Luna’s String Octet Op. 51 at its opening concert. The composer will be present to listen to his son Javier Arias, cellist in the Amernet quartet.

Durbecq’s quartet, based in Mexico City, is another example of San Miguel’s influence on the chamber music world. A few years ago their violinist, Omar Guevara Sánchez received a scholarship to attend the Festival’s all-important Student Program, which has launched many young musicians on the path to successful careers. This year the Chàvez String Quartet is the ensemble-in-residence at the Festival, responsible for 40 scholarship music students from all over Mexico.

The Chávez String Quartet has long maintained a high profile in promoting Mexican music from the baroque to contemporary times. Their recordings of Unknown Mexican Quartets feature the work of a forgotten yet talented woman composer from the late 19th century, Guadalupe Olmedo. In 2007 they received a grant from the National Council for the Arts (FONCA) and commissioned a new work by Mexican composer and now Juilliard professor, Samuel Zyman.

One of the Festival’s great successes has been the creation of the Trio Quetzal, that was formed at last year’s Festival. They first played together in the Sala Quetzal of the Biblioteca Pública—hence their name. The group went on to win a scholarship to earn their master’s degrees at Kent State University in Ohio under the tutelage of the Miami String Quartet and won first prize at the Chamber Music Interpretation Competition of the Conservatorio de las Rosas in Morelia, Michoacán.

The three members of the Quetzal Trío are: violinist Juan Manuel Antonio Flores Gómez, a 22-year old native of Monterrey; cellist José Luis Herrera Hernández, a native of Coahuila who was named Student of the year at last year’s Festival; and pianist Pedro Damián Martínez Valdéz, who hails from Baja California. Be among the first audiences to hear this vibrant new group at their free concert in the Teatro Ángela Peralta on August 11 at noon. They are particularly excited to be presenting a work composed for them by Lelio di Tullio, who worked closely with them for this performance.

The Bellas Artes Wind Trio and Two Pianos introduce the work of another Mexican composer, Leonardo Coral, a modernist influenced by the impressionists. Coral, who visits San Miguel during the Festival, is an up-and-coming composer whose works have already been included in international concerts and been recorded by distinguished musicians. In 2001 he won the National Artists System Fellowship of Creators. He composed “Apparitions” in 1999, and pianist María Teresa Frenk was one of the artists who premiered it in 2004.

As members of the Symphonic Orchestra of Guanajuato, the Scherzo String Quartet draws from 100 years of musical experience. On August 12 they tantalize our senses with harmonious renditions of popular composers from North and South America such as Cole Porter, Leroy Anderson, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Scott Joplin and Astor Piazzola.

The San Miguel Chamber Music Festival offers you a unique opportunity to savor a panorama of Mexican musical talent presented by some of Mexico’s most professional musicians, composers and groups who have already proven themselves on the international stage.

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.

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Tribute to the Kings Concert
Vudu Chile

Tribute to Muddy Waters & Ray Charles
Fri, Jul 31, 8pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
200 pesos

Hit the road, Jack, I got my mojo working
By David Garza

Vudu Chile repeat their Muddy Waters and Ray Charles tribute concert, so if you missed them last spring, you have another chance to catch an amazing performance by some of San Miguel’s favorite musicians.

Part of their ongoing series of homage concerts, this Friday’s performance is the “Tribute to the Kings.” Muddy Waters, the king of the blues and Ray Charles, the undisputed monarch of R&B, will be honored for their contributions to American music in a tribute to their greatest songs in a way only Vudu Chile can perform them. Putting their stamp on such classics as “Hoochie Coochie Man” and “I Got a Woman,” Vudu Chile will work its mojo as it has done in the past, bringing artistic perspective and fresh energy to this time-tested music.

With singing and running commentary by vocalist Lynx Maple on artistic influence from one artist to another, and with the soulful guitar licks of Julian Arcos and the powerful rhythm section of Javier Arcos on bass and Carlos de Aguinaga on drums, you won’t even notice there’s no piano in the band. We promise! One concert-goer said, “I forgot Ray Charles music even had piano parts after listening to you guys play.”

Pulling off tributes to The Beatles, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder is no easy task, but Vudu Chile does it with soul and R-E-S-P-E-C-T! People were dancing in the back of Teatro Santa Ana at Vudu Chile’s last concert there. We hope to see you there this Friday as well.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Teatro box office.


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Concert
Lynx Maple
Sat, Aug 1, 3pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
150 pesos

Real everyday magic By David Garza Lynx Maple, lead vocalist for Vudu Chile and respected singer/songwriter in his own right, performs a rare concert of his own original material. This is not a Vudu Chile concert. but a chance for die-hard fans to hear recent original solo acoustic material.

His compositions are dedicated to the revival of women’s places as leaders in society and restoration to their former sublime glory such feminine traits as intuition, grace, magic, charm and a natural connectedness to the earth. It may sound New Agey, but Lynx has captured many moments of his own connectedness to nature and the intuitive world—synchronistic moments, magic occurring in everyday situations, real magic in this day and age. Can you believe it? It’s true.

“I live my life by moments,” Lynx says, “It’s probably why I’m so scattered most of the time, because I pay attention to magic, and magic transcends time. It really does. I’ve had moments separated by 30 years or more and yet they were deeply connected. When you live your life by moments, time makes no sense, and therefore you make no sense to people who live by the schedule. Magic can work its way around your schedule and have you be exactly who and where you need to be in spite of it.”

One day, when Lynx was first starting out as a poet/singer/songwriter, a painter friend said to him, “Do you try to tell a story when you write a song?”


“No,” Lynx said, “I try to capture a moment.”

“That’s funny,” his friend replied. “When I paint, I try to tell a story.”

Another book-matched synchronicity. Hope you’re matched for this event. Highly personal songs about the beauty of women and women’s suffering will be played along with songs about the magic, the big magic, in our lives.

Tickets are on sale in advance at Teatro Santa Ana.