Classical Music Concerts
Merida has always been a cultural center for the southeast of Mexico. With more and more expatriates moving in from all corners of the globe, the cultural offerings in Merida have been gaining a breadth and depth that is often unexpected and always interesting.
We have heard recently about an exciting and very different concept in classical music coming to Merida this fall. La Hacienda Xcanatún and Chamber Music Merida! will be presenting a series of concerts performed by members of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán (OSY), along with other distinguished musicians.
This inaugural 2016-2017 concert series will feature solos, duets, trios, quartets, and larger ensembles performing a wide range of musical styles and composers, from Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Beethoven, Verdi, Puccini, and Strauss to Piazzolla, Ravi Shankar and the Beatles, among many others.
"This is a unique opportunity for people in Merida to hear ensemble performances," said Dr. Leroy Osmon, founder of Chamber Music Merida!, the entity organizing and promoting the series. "It's especially exciting to be able to offer ensembles that people wouldn't normally hear, such as a classic woodwind trio, a trio for soprano, violin and piano, brass ensembles, and music for harpsichord," he continued.
The series will also offer listeners a rare opportunity to enjoy the richest and most varied offering of musical literature to be heard in Merida. Imaginative and varied programming—classical chamber music, opera, popular music, even a world premiere composition (by Osmon himself)—performed by musicians of diverse backgrounds in varied ensemble formats, offers concert-goers a refreshing change of pace.
Eighteen Performances Scheduled
There is a total of 18 performances scheduled beginning on October 6, 2016 through May 18, 2017. Thirty members of OSY will be part of this first season. Joining them are very talented local musicians. There will also be two invited guest artists from the United States: Will Streider, trumpet professor at Texas Tech University, and Dr. Keith Paulson-Thorp, author of The 20th-century Harpsichord.
"It's a way to spotlight members of the outstanding symphony orchestra we have here," said Osmon. "I thank Jorge Ruz of Hacienda Xcanatún for his support and for offering such a beautiful venue for this concert series. This intimate setting makes possible a connection between performers and audiences that cannot be duplicated in larger halls."
To make reservations for any of the individual concerts, call Hacienda Xcanatún at 930-2140. Tickets are $200 pesos per person. Seating is limited and must be reserved in advance.
La Hacienda Xcanatún & Chamber Music Merida! Present:
2016 - 2017 Concert Season
OCTOBER
6 - Music for Harp & Flute
Ruth Bennett (Harp) & Zendra White (Flute)
Music by Bach, Cras, Chopin, Ravel, Piazzolla, and Ravi Shankar
20 - Music for Soprano, Violin & Piano
Julia Arcudia (Soprano) Michael Faulkner (Violin) & Arturo Bassol (Piano)
Music by Mozart, Verdi, Debussy, Puccini, Strauss, Saint-Saens, Ponce, and Bernstein
NOVEMBER
3 - Classic Woodwind Trio
Joaquin Melo (Flute) Alexander Ovcharov (Oboe) & Miguel Galván (Bassoon)
Music by Haydn, Beethoven and Cambini
24 - Music for 2 Trumpets & 2 Trombones
Symphony Orchestra of Yucatan BRASS!
Program to be announced.
DECEMBER
7 & 8 - Music for Harp, Flute & Viola
Ruth Bennett (Harp) Victoria Nuño (Flute) & Nikolay Dimitrov (Viola)
Music by Debussy, Bax, and others.
JANUARY 2017
12 - Trio and Duo Concert
Victoria Nuño (Flute and Piccolo) Nikolay Dimitrov (Viola) & Charles McGirr (String Bass)
Music by Schulhoff, Bussotti, Osmon (World Premiere composition), and others.
19 - Music for Soprano, Piano and Guitar
Julia Arcudia (Soprano) Arturo Bassol (Piano) and guest guitar soloist
FEBRUARY
1 & 2 - Music for Brass Trio
Professor Will Strieder (Trumpet) and guest performers from the Symphony Orchestra of Yucatan
Program to be announced.
15 & 16 - Barroco Escarlata (Baroque Chamber Ensemble)
Rob Myers (Trumpet) with members of the Symphony Orchestra of Yucatan
Program to be announced.
MARCH
8 & 9 - MUSIC OF THE BEATLES!
Quo Vadis String Quartet lead by Pawel Blaszkowski
Music by THE BEATLES
22 & 23 - Music for Piano Quartet
Orpheus Piano Quartet - Irina Decheva (Piano) Iliana Stefanova (Violin) Nikolay Dimitrov (Viola) & Veselin Dechev (Cello)
Program to be announced.
APRIL
13 - Music for the Harpsichord
Dr. Keith Paulson-Thorp (Harpsichord) with soloists from the Symphony Orchestra of Yucatan
Program to be announced.
MAY
18 - Music for Harp and Soloist
Ruth Bennett (Harp) Michael Faulkner (Violin) and guest
Music by Saint-Saens, Spohr and others
Enjoy!
We hope our readers will enjoy this series and help make it a huge success. Participation in this and other musical offerings serves to bring more world class musicians and artists to Merida... a win-win for us all!
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This article was contributed by Cay Smith Osmon. After working for 30 years as a public school music and teaching as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston, Dr. Leroy Osmon now devotes his time exclusively to composition. He now lives in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico with his wife, Dr. Cay Smith Osmon. While living in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico Dr. Osmon was a consultant to the Governor for the Institute of Culture for the State of Yucatan and worked to help create the Orquesta Sinfonica De Yucatan. For many years he also worked as a consultant with the University of Yucatan (UADY) Orquestas de Camara. This is his latest project.
Posted By Yucatan Living Contributor
