David Elliott, the director of the British Council in Mexico, this week joined state Culture Secretary Myriam Vachez to announce details of the United Kingdom’s involvement in Guadalajara’s 18th Festival Cultural de Mayo, which begins on May 8.
The British program scheduled at the Teatro Degollado was described by Festival Director Sergio Alejandro Matos as “truly important.” All but one of the shows feature celebrated British artists.
The festival kicks off on May 8 and 9 with two performances by the Aakash Odedra Company, a group inspired by classical South Asian and contemporary dance. The company will present “Inked, Murmur,” the personal narrative of the troupe’s founder, Aakash Odedra, whose dyslexia at a young age threatened the development of his talent for dance. Wrote one reviewer of the piece: “The visual effects of ‘Murmur’ are frequently breathtaking, but some of the most memorable moments occur when Odedra is simply dancing in Kathak style with thrilling speed and fluency.”
On May 10, children (and adults) will be entertained by The Classic Buskers plus Neil Henry, described as “three madcap talents who light up the stage in a witty and highly engaging classical music-versus-magic show.” The buskers are Michael Copley, master of more than 40 woodwind instruments, and accordionist Ian Moore (a Mr. Bean lookalike), along with magician Neil Henry, who constantly bemuses the musicians with his amazing tricks. One reviewer called the show “a showcase for British humor at its best.”
A recital on May 13 sees Welsh pianist Llŷr Williams interpret works by Beethoven, Wagner and Liszt, while on May 16, the Michael Nyman Band hits town. This innovative band – featuring a string quartet, double bass, clarinet, three saxophones, horn, trumpet, bass trombone, bass guitar and piano – plays contemporary classical music, minimalist music and film scores. Founder Michael Nyman has composed many scores for the films of Peter Greenaway and also written operas, ballet music and a large number of chamber and concert pieces.
The United Kingdom is put to one side on Sunday, May 17, when arguably Mexico’s greatest tenor of the moment, Javier Camarena, joins the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra for an opera gala. Considered the sensation of the moment in the opera world, the 39-year-old received a rare honor at the Metropolitan Opera last April, becoming only the third singer in 70 years to perform an aria encore, following a prolonged ovation for his second act aria “Si, ritrovarla io giuro” (“Yes, I swear I’ll find her”) in Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” (“Cinderella”). Camarena will perform works by Gounod, Bizet, Donizetti, Rossini and Verdi. Note that ticket prices are slightly higher for this performance.
On May 20 and 21, Gecko, a contemporary “physical dance” theater company, presents “Missing,” described as an “exploration and reflection on the impact our early lives and memories have on us.” With hardly any text, this production follows an ordinary woman as she faces her journey through life. This is a highly creative company that embraces many different forms of performance-based art, including mime, clowning, dance and circus.
The City of London Sinfonia, whose stated aim is to “push the artistic boundaries and audience experience in live orchestral music,” performs on May 22. Directed by Stephen Layton, the orchestra has an extensive discography of over 100 recordings.
The 14-year-old Akram Khan Company, one of the foremost innovative dance outfits in the United Kingdom, present the show “Kaash” on May 29 and 30. A milestone in this company’s trajectory was the creation of a section of the London Olympic Games opening ceremony in 2012. Kaash (the Hindi word for “if only”) continues Khan’s quest to “build bridges between the worlds of contemporary dance and Indian classical dance.”
The festival closes May 31 with a performance by the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra of Sir William Walton’s score from the 1944 Oscar-winning movie “Henry V” (starring Laurence Olivier), conducted by Garry Walker, the director of the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra. Narration is by Mario Ivan Martinez.
For more information go to www.festivaldemayo.org.
Festival de Mayo at a glance
Friday, May 8 & Saturday, May 9, 8:30 p.m. Aakash Odedra Company. 100-250 pesos.
Sunday, May 10, 6 p.m. The Classic Buskers + Neil Henry (for children). 150 pesos.
Wednesday. May 13, 8:30 p.m. Llŷr Williams, piano. 150 pesos.
Saturday, May 16, 8:30 p.m. Michael Nyman Band. 100-250 pesos.
Sunday, May 17, 6:30 p.m. Opera gala with Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra and tenor Javier Camarena. 300-600 pesos.
Wednesday, May 20 & Thursday, May 21, 8:30 p.m. Gecko Theater Company. 100-200 pesos.
Friday, May 22, 8:30 p.m. City of London Sinfonia. 100-300 pesos.
Friday, May 29 & Saturday, May 30, 8:30 p.m. Akram Khan Dance Company. 100-250 pesos.
Sunday, May 31, 6:30 p.m. Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra perform Sir William Walton’s score “Henry V,” conducted by Garry Walker, with narration by Mario Ivan Martinez. 100-250 pesos.