State Symphony of Mexico plays Kansas City Debut concert presented by Harriman-jewell series
WHAT: STATE SYMPHONY OF MEXICO led by Enrique Bátiz; Alfonso Moreno, guitar soloist
PRESENTED BY: HARRIMAN-JEWELL SERIES
WHEN: Saturday, March 8, at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Music Hall, downtown Kansas City, Mo. (13th and Central Sts.)
TICKETS: $20, $25, $40, or $55
| call 816-415-5025 or visit
www.harriman-jewell.org
Discounted tickets are available—call
for information.
PROGRAM: Manuel De Falla's "The Three-Cornered Hat, Suite No. 2"; Carlos Chavez's "Sinfonia India, No. 2"; Johannes Brahms' "Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98"; and Joaquin Rodrigo's "Concerto de Aranjuez" with Alfonso Moreno playing solo guitar.
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The State Symphony of Mexico, considered Mexico’s
most important music group, performs at 8 p.m. Saturday,
March 8, at the Music Hall (13th and Central Sts.)
in downtown Kansas City, Mo. This Harriman-Jewell
Series presentation marks the Symphony’s first
appearance in Kansas City and is set to include works
by Brahms, Chavez, De Falla—and Alfonso Moreno
plays solo guitar for Rodrigo’s Concierto
de Araniuez.
Enrique Bátiz is one of the most famous orchestra conductors in Latin America—no doubt he is a gifted artist who has won international popularity and whose interpretations produce the deepest and most profound emotion. Born in Mexico City in 1942, Bátiz studied piano with Francisco Agea in 1950 and in 1960 he continued his studies with Gyorgy Sandor. That same year he went to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. In 1962 he studied piano with Adele Marcus in New York at the Juilliard School of Music, where he also studied conducting and received a diploma in 1965. In 1964 he made several national tours as a pianist.
Maestro Bátiz initially served as conductor of the State Symphony of Mexico for 12 years, followed by leadership of the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra for seven years. In 1990 he resumed his directorship of the State Symphony of Mexico. He was named guest conductor for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1984. As a guest conductor, Bátiz has led more than 500 symphony orchestras around the world.
Alfonso Moreno is revered as a great interpreter of classical guitar. Moreno takes a symphonic approach to the guitar, using a broad pallete of colors, timbres and dynamics, and is well known for his prodigious technique and musical interpretations. He has given more than 3,000 concerts throughout Europe, America and Asia, transporting audiences with the sweetness, depth and sincerity of his playing. Born in Mexico into a family with a strong tradition of art and culture, he began his musical studies at the age of four. He has acquired music degrees in violin, composition, conducting and guitar.
Founded in 1971, under the initiative of Enrique Bátiz and the Mexican government, the State Symphony of Mexico set out to use the art of music as a means to create identity and to unify the citizens of Mexico. Located in the city of Toluca, and with the Sala Felipe Villanueva as its home hall, the orchestra has been characterized from the start by an endeavor to carry its message to all the municipalities of the state and to all corners of the country. The orchestra was the first institution of its kind to visit the 16 political divisions of the Federal District.
Tickets to the State Symphony of Mexico concert are $20, $25, $40, or $55. To order tickets or for more information, call the Harriman-Jewell Series office at 816-415-5025 (toll-free at 888-528-5521) or visit www.harriman-jewell.org. Discounted tickets are available—call for information.
Now in its 43rd season, the nationally recognized Harriman-Jewell Series brings acclaimed performers from the worlds of music, dance, and theatre to Kansas City’s downtown venues. In addition to the performances, educational events offer free master classes and lectures to allow area community members and students to view artists in an informal setting. Peterson’s Smart Parents Guide to College cites the Series as a prime example of how small colleges “can become centers of culture for an entire region.”
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