The Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) has a big year ahead. 2015 marks “100 Years of Orchestral Tradition in Jalisco,” as JPO publicity calls its celebration of the establishment in 1915 by the illustrious José Rolón of a group of musicians playing symphony and chamber music.
Rolón was approximately 18 directors ago. Since then, the orchestra has seen many apogees, for example being ranked among the top three Mexican orchestras and being home base for big-name directors such as Leslie Hodge, Eduardo Mata, Helmut Goldman and José Guadalupe Flores. (Although greatness tends to be conferred retrospectively, some rank current director Marco Parisotto as one of the greats.)
Although strictly speaking, the first performances of 2015 (on Friday, January 16 and Sunday, January 18) are not on the orchestra’s list of anniversary-related activities, nevertheless the selection of Jorge Osorio as soloist in Brahms’ “Piano Concerto No. 2” augurs well. Brahms was himself a pianist and this long (50-minute), Romantic concerto has been called “a wave of feeling” and symphonic in character — Parisotto dubbed it “esplendoroso” — and it ranks in popularity alongside works in the genre by Beethoven.
Soloist Osorio is no slouch either. Calling him “the most important Mexican pianist,” JPO General Manager Arturo Gómez noted that Osorio, who is in his 70s and lives in New York, has played on many occasions with the Jalisco Philharmonic.
“And because this is a year of celebration we’re going to keep on inviting interesting soloists and directors all year long,” he added.
One highlight of the anniversary year, a few of which have yet to be confirmed, will be the concert program on January 23 and 25 featuring some of the compositions of founding director Rolón.
“Then, in June, the orchestra will record a DVD in Teatro Degollado,” said Gómez. “This hasn’t been done for 20 years,” he added, noting that Warner Classics will be the label for this Tchaikovsky concert featuring acclaimed Montreal violinist Alexandre Dacosta.
Next up is a national tour in June culminating in a concert July 12 in Mexico City’s revered Palacio de Bellas Artes with Russian pianist Alexei Volodin and works by Sergei Prokofiev and Igor Stravinsky.
The high points of the anniversary come in early September, when the orchestra will probably perform in Busan, South Korea’s second largest city, and then, in December, in Shanghai.
“We still have to finalize elements of these tours,” noted Gómez, “such as patrons to cover the airline tickets, but they are practically assured,” and the host cities are committed to the lodging and musicians’ payment.
Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra plays Brahms’ “Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major” and César Franck’s “Symphony in D minor,” Friday, January 16, 8:30 p.m. and Sunday, January 18, 12:30 p.m. Tickets available at Ticketmaster (33) 3818-3800, www.ticketmaster.com.mx and Degollado Theater box office, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. daily, tel. (33) 3614 4773. The Degollado Theater is in Guadalajara’s city center two blocks behind the main cathedral. 30 percent discount available only at box office for students, teachers, seniors (with valid ID) and persons with disabilities.
Website: http://en.ofj.com.mx. General practice open to the public every Friday of the season at 9 a.m. in the Degollado Theater. Orchestra information: (33) 3030-9772 weekdays, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Access to Degollado Theater to children ages 6 and over.