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| Jalisco Harp |
The solos by Julio Martinez on his Jalisco Harp were outstanding.
BTW the harp is now mostly replaced by the guitarron ( as it can be played in different keys, it is the musical heartbeat of the band), except in small town bands and professionally performing groups,
Course, having been able to bring into the hall their drinks (yes, indeed; and some also took photographs and others texted (my seat mate did - somehow (blindly?) - within the purse on her lap), most of the audience was well lubricated to sing along with 'Cielito Lindo' and others; for example a rousing "Mexico" with a full throated "VIVA" chorus by the visitors!
Ah, and I must not forget the loudly approving whistles and shouts!
And there was this one singer, whose breath control was utterly incredible causing spontaneous prolonged applause, although not as long as he held his high notes! WOW.
As an interesting aside, most of the music Mariachis play is based on the waltzes (long-quick-quick measures) by Viennese (aren't we Austrians just about everwhere LOL?) Johann Strauss, Jr.,
other influences stem from Spain ('Bolero'), Mexico itself ('Son' de/of Jalisco,
'Huapango' de/of Potosi and Hidalgo-an example of this type below-
)
and of Cuba (the 'Danzon'-Afro Cuban).
The 'Joropo' is music borrowed from jazz.. requiring an exceptional technical skill as it is played in a combination of 3/4 and 6/8 time. And that was VERY obvious when the violins let loose with flying fingers and bows! Too fast to follow, almost!
"CRUZAR LA CARA DE LA LUNA"composed as a Mariachi Opera
by Jose 'Pepe' Martinez, libretto by Leonard Foglia, who also directed.
In English and Spanish with the opposite surtitles where needed.
Orchestra was the 'band' who served also as the 'chorus'!
Soloists:
Mezzo Cecilia Duarte, a truly vocally stunning 'Renata';
Britanny Wheeler surprised with a sweet, clean soprano as 'Diana';
Baritone Octavio Moreno as 'Laurentino' sang with his customary warm, rich sound;
Tenor David Guzman sang clearly and lyrically as 'Rafael';
Bariton Brian Shircliff's ringing rounded vocals made an impact as 'Mark',
while the 'Lupita' of Vanessa Cerda-Alonzo impressed with a true Mariachi sound,
and the 'Victor' of Juan Mejia was ably portrayed.
All sang well, both in English and Spanish.
Jose 'Pepe' Martinez took on the, Spanish only, role of 'Chuco',
as he melded his strong voice with the others.
Briefly,
the opera deals with the fate of a fictional blended Mexican-American family.
Some 'immigrant' may have had a child in Mexico, but later also a family in America.
And sometime both are unknown to each other until the approaching death of the communal father spurs the family members into meeting, and forgiving.
The underlying theme is the annual migration of the Monarch Butterfly between North and South,
an idea which was also broached by "A Way Home", a bilingual opera by Ethan Frederic Greene and Irene Keliher, premiered by HGOco at Miller Theater in May of this year-see my earlier post of 5/7/2010 on that).
Of course, while this music most definitely echoes the historic folkloric sounds of Mariachi,
Greene's music has a much more modern feel.
Both pieces are descriptive of the 'flutter of wings in the air'.
Both Duarte and Shircliff sang in the Greene opera, too, as they ably sang the different types of music.
It was a delightfully innovative, and entertaining, evening at the opera!
By the way, it was recorded and will be aired on 87.8 FM sometime in the future.
A fully staged version will be presented at Talento Bilingue 333 South Jenson
with one performance on December 3,
two on the 4th
and one on the 5th.
For tickets:713-222-1213 or http://www.tbhcenter.org/.
It is well worth going.. get your tickets soon!.
1 comment:
It was interesting and unusual...but not to everyone's taste, there were people leaving in intermission.
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