New West Symphony (NWS), with Grammy-winning conductor Michael Christie as Artistic and Music Director, continues its 2020-21 groundbreaking and reimagined season of “Global Sounds, Local Cultures” with A Tour of Mexico. This festival, running May 20-23, culminates with a feature symphony concert presentation, spotlighting virtuosic guitarist Jiji Kim and harpist Maria Casale, with works by Arturo Marquez, Fernando Arroyo Lascurain, Silvestre Revueltas, Manuel Ponce, Gabriela Ortiz, Jose Enrique Gonzalez-Medina and the traditional Mexican folk song, El Son de la Negra. A Tour of Mexico is presented in partnership with the Museum of Ventura County.
Along with the symphony concert, Season and Concert Passport holders can enjoy access to companion cultural festival programs for further immersion into the music, the artistry, and the culture that inspired the concert, curated by Michael Christie. These events will take place on Thursday, May 20 at 6pm PT – a Pre-Concert Talk from UCLA Senior Lecturer, David Ravetch, who explores the music presented in the A Tour of Mexico concert in an informative, audience-friendly format; Friday, May 21 at 7pm PT – Culture Insights, an exploration of Southern California’s heritage, including demonstrations of traditional instruments and performance, and discussions about history, arts and music; and Saturday, May 22 at 7pm PT – Meet the Artists, a longstanding New West Symphony tradition which brings audiences closer to the guest artists and offers an opportunity to learn about artistic and creative process.
Sunday, May 23, 2021 at 3pm PT – A Tour of Mexico – Symphony Concert
Michael Christie, conductor
Guest Artists:
Jiji Kim, guitar
Maria Casale, harp
Mariachi Divas
Arturo Marquez: Máscaras, Concerto for Harp and Orchestra
Fernando Arroyo García Lascurain: Pok-Ta-Pok: El Juego De Los Dioses
Silvestre Revueltas: Ocho por Radio
Gabriela Ortiz: Exilios
Manuel Ponce: Concierto del Sur for Guitar and Orchestra
José Enrique González-Medina: Las primas del General Calles
Traditional: El Son de la Negra
Additional Cultural Programs Included with a Concert Passport:
Pre-Concert Talk with David Ravetch
Presented Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 6pm PT (not available on demand)
The New West Symphony’s pre-concert talk features UCLA Senior Lecturer, David Ravetch, who explores the music presented in the A Tour of Mexico concert in an informative, audience-friendly format.
Culture Insights
Premieres Friday, May 21, 2021 at 7pm PT
Culture Insights is an exploration of Southern California’s heritage, including demonstrations of traditional instruments and performance, and discussions about history, arts and music. Appearances for this edition include Zapotec master weaver Porfirio Gutiérrez; Rocio Marron, Son Jarocho and Mariachi violinist; community leader, Carmen Ramirez; musician and educator, Jorge Andres Herrera; an Aztec Dance performance by Veronica X. Valadez and leaders from the Museum of Ventura County.
Meet the Artists
Premieres Saturday, May 22, 2021 at 7pm PT
Meet the Artists is a longstanding New West Symphony tradition which brings us closer to the guest artists and gives our audience an opportunity to learn about artistic and creative process. Enjoy a combination of biography, performance and insight into an artist’s process and talent, such as soloist guitarist Jiji Kim, composers Fernando Arroyo García Lascurain, José Enrique González-Medina and Gabriela Ortiz.
Learn more by clicking here.
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