Colorful and Musically Satisfying Opening Night at Pasadena Symphony
concertopartthreeEclectic dress was in at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium last weekend as patrons of the symphony arrived in garb that ranged from eveningwear to casual attire to enjoy the opening of the 2008-2009 season of the Pasadena Symphony. They were greeted by dancers in the forecourt of the auditorium performing native Mexican dances as a precursor of the evening’s music which was dedicated to both ancient and modern Mexican composers and their musical traditions.
The dancers’ costumes – white linen outfits of the men, the white lace full skirts on the women decorated with bright red embroidery – shone brightly against the backdrop of tuxedo-clad men and elegant women in black gowns who arrived after enjoying a pre-concert dinner sponsored by The Orchestras of Pasadena Association. The well-dressed mingled with the balance of the crowd who were dressed in street wear along with a few outfitted in suits and dresses. But this social aspect was but a small sampling of the cultural riches to be enjoyed by all in the musical evening yet to come.
The pageant continued inside the auditorium as Jorge Mester, conductor of the Pasadena Symphony, ushered in the 81st season of the orchestra, an event he has presided over for the past 23 years.
Mester was born and raised in Mexico City. So the program, termed a “Mexican Celebration,” was a natural for him; and it apparently was an emotional event as well. Mester strode to the podium with determination where he was greeted by his 92 musicians with enthusiastic, even exuberant applause and the traditional stamping of the feet, something the professional musicians seldom engage in. Mester was noticeably touched by the warm greeting.
The program opened with a taut, clean, and exciting playing of Mexican composer Carlos Chavez’ Symphony No. 2, “Sinfonia India”, a raucous characterization of the Aztec culture. The orchestra remained attentive to details throughout.
Right: Jorge Mester, conductor of the Pasadena Symphony
Later, the auditorium came alive as Mariachi Champaña Nevin, at the front of the orchestra, performed Concerto for Mariachi and Orchestra, or “Pasion Mexicana”, a three-movement work by the group’s founder, Jeff Nevin, featuring words by José Hernandez. The composition cleverly integrates the traditions of Western orchestral music with Mariachi music bringing songs of dance and cantina into the concert hall. The Mariachi music in Nevin’s work is a composite of the 18th-century traditional blend of Indian and Spanish music and has provided a lively background for native dancers for many years.
Mariachi Champaña Nevin consists of 15 musicians: four guitars, a harp and ten violins and calls on the performers to sing the Hernandez text which salutes both Mexico and Mariachi music as the voice of Mexico. Indeed, their authentic performance of music written by Chicago-born Nevin and aided by Hernandez was astounding. The Nevin group ended their set with an encore, performing the well-known “Cielito Lindo”.
Following intermission, Mester led the orchestra in another Mesoamerican-inspired piece, Silvestre Revueltas’ “La Noche de los Mayas”. The music is divided into four nighttime musical entities working to a frenzied finale in which 14 percussionists provided a colorful sight and sound which included seven drums, a snare drum, maracas, xylophone, gong, and get this, conch shells.
Mester concluded the concert with an encore, José Pablo Moncayo’s “Huapango”, another lively and colorful composition from Mexico. In this, and all numbers preceding it, the orchestra found its way successfully through the difficult rhythms.
Right: Mariachi Champaña Nevin made opening night at Pasadena Symphony a Fiesta.
The Pasadena Symphony continues its season at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10 when an all-orchestral program of the music of Wagner, Dohnanyi and Tchaikovsky will be performed. Saturday morning of the concert, from 10 a.m. to noon, rehearsals are open to the public for $10 per person. Ticket prices for the concert range from $20 to $60. For more information, please call (626) 584-8833. The Pasadena Civic Auditorium is located at 300 E. Green St., Pasadena.
By Bill Peters
