Hispanic Heritage Month (II)

In honor of Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th anniversary in 2020, the Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería performed Beethoven’s symphonic cycle at the Academia de Música del Palacio de Minería in Mexico City in 2019. Mexican conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto leads the orchestra, four vocal soloists, the Vocal Essence choir, and the choir of Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería in this performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125. Prieto has been serving as music director of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería since 2008, and is considered the foremost Mexican conductor of his generation. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 is widely considered his greatest composition. He completed this piece in 1824, when he was almost deaf. This symphony is unique, since Beethoven included a choir and vocal soloists in the last movement. Here, Beethoven set to music parts of Friedrich Schiller's poem “Ode an die Freude” (“Ode to Joy”). The symphony consists of four movements: Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso, Molto vivace, Adagio molto e cantabile, and Finale. The four vocal soloists are Katherine Whyte (soprano), Grace Echauri (mezzosoprano), Thomas Studebaker (tenor), and Kevin Deas (bass).

Suite Flamenca consists of seven pieces of traditional flamenco dance presented with Gades' unique insight on the aesthetics of flamenco dance. Consisting of solos, duets and group dances, all sides of flamenco dancing are featured. Gades' interpretation, initially described as avant-garde, is now considered as classic. With flawless solo performances by Stella Arauzo and Miguel Lara, and artists from the Compania Antonio Gades, this is a performance to enjoy. Suite Flamenca is filmed at the Teatro Real, Madrid, to mark the 75th anniversary of Gades' birth.

The Venezuelan Brass Ensemble – a highly-acclaimed group with nearly 50 brass and percussion players drawn from the extraordinary Simón Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela. The repertoire of the Venezuelan Brass Ensemble is a regular firework display of ambitious pieces for massed brass - impressively varied and testifies to the high standard of this young ensemble. The Ensemble is both a miracle and an inspiration to all. With their blend of classical and South American repertoire these some 50 young brass and percussion players not only have audiences on their feet but with a scintillating display of brass music demonstrate a virtuosity and a passion that is nothing short of awesome.