May Festival
Quebec contemporary dance The band Gabacho Maroc combine modern instruments and traditional Moroccan and African instruments and vocals to create an unprecedented sound.
Teatro Degollado, Friday, May 18, 8:30 p.m. 140-200 pesos.
A program of French music with the Jalisco Philharmonic, featuring guest stars Leticia De Altamirano (soprano) and Dana Zemtsov (viola), under the baton of Marco Parisotto. Hear works by Gounod, Berlioz, Delibes, Massenet and Bizet.
Conjunto de Artes Escenicas, Sunday, May 20, 12:30 p.m. 200-450 pesos.
French classical piano duo Katia and Marielle Labeque (above) in concert.
Teatro Degollado, Sunday, May 20, 7:30 p.m. 250-400 pesos.
Faustino Díaz on trombone, Joao Vilão (Portugal) on trumpet and Carlos Gutiérrez on piano.
Templo de Santa María de Gracia (Av. Hidalgo 156, to one side of Teatro Degollado), Monday, May 21, 8:45 p.m.
Bastien Baumet (France) on euphonium, Branimir León and José León on trombone, and Carlos Gutiérrez on piano. Templo de San Sebastián de Analco (Cuauhtémoc 287), Tuesday, May 22, 8:45 p.m.
A performance by the “Amadeus” Chamber Orchestra of Polish Radio.
Teatro Degollado, Tuesday, May 22, 8:30 p.m. 180-250 pesos.
A recital by talented Ukrainian pianist Vadym Kholodenko.
Teatro Degollado, Wednesday, May 23, 8:30 p.m. 160 pesos.
The Banda Sinfónica de la Universidad de Guadalajara is joined by invited guests Bastien Baumet, euphonium (France), Faustino Díaz, trombone (Mexico), Joao Vilao, trumpet (Portugal), Branimir León, trombone (Venezuela) and José León, trombone (Venezuela).
Teatro Degollado, Thursday, May 24, 8:30 p.m. 150 pesos.
The Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra performs works by Ravel, Chopin and Dutilleux. Vadym Kholodenko is the soloist; Marco Parisotto conducts.
Teatro Degollado, Friday. May 25, 8:30 p.m. 180-250 pesos.
Tuesday recitals
The Jalisco Culture Secretariat’s “Martes de Música y Ópera” series showcases talented classical musicians at free-of-charge Tuesday evening recitals. May 22: Leandro Avalle (piano), Leonardo Mendoza Maldonado, (cello) and Tania Romero Mayén (violin). May 29: Ivan Stebila, Diego Rojas and Omar Pérez Gaydos (violin)and Roberto José Pérez Gaydós (cello). June 5: Diana Carolina Laguna Rivas and Francisco Vidal Rivera González (violin), Luis Carlos Rincón Barrios (viola) and Areli Medeles Medina (cello). June 12: José Guadalupe López Luévano (guitar) and Joel Juan Qui (piano). June 19: Saúl Ulises Ibarra Ramos (piano).
Teatro Alarife Mortín Casillas, Tuesdays, 8 p.m. Free.
Symphony of Our World
Combining stunning National Geographic natural history footage with an original symphony and theme created by Emmy- and BAFTA-nominated Bleeding Fingers Music, featuring composers Austin Fray and Andrew Christie, Symphony for Our World is a breathtaking musical journey through some of the world’s most incredible wildlife spectacles.
Teatro Diana, Thursday, May 31, 8:30 p.m. 550-1,200 pesos.
Great mariachi voices
Accompanied by the famous Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán are Edwin Origel, Manuel Vargas, Francisco González, Pepe Martínez Junior and Arturo Vargas – all stellar names in the mariachi world.
Teatro Diana, Friday, June 1, 8 p.m. 400-900 pesos.
Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra
The JPO summer season kicks off with an intriguing program from Eastern Europen titled “Orientalismo Fantastico.” The orchestra will interpret works by Russian composers Mily Balakirev and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, as well as Armenia’s Aram Khachaturian. João Vilão, the JPO’s principal trumpet, will be the soloist in Alexander Arutiunian’s Trumpet Concerto, composed in 1950.
Teatro Degollado, Thursday, June 7, 8:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 10, 12:30 p.m. 110’200 pesos.
Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra
Program two sees JPO Musical Director Marco Parisotto conduct Mahler’s Symphony No. 6 in A minor (“Tragic”). According to Steven Coburn of
Teatro Degollado, Thursday, June 14, 8:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 17, 12:30 p.m.
Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra
The JPO puts on show specially for children. Guest conductor Enrique Radillo leads the musicians in a program featuring pieces by Khachaturian, Balakirev, Maurice Ravel and Leo Delibes. The performance concludes with a rendering of Pepe Guizar’s famous tribute to his home town, “Guadalajara.” Two hosts will help explain the music to the young audience (and their parents), while making sure their attention doesn’t wane.
Teatro Degollado, Sunday, June 24, 12:30 p.m.
Classic rock
Three tribute bands – Midnight Special, Wish and The Appetites – interpret songs by rock legends Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Cure and Guns N’ Roses.
Teatro Diana, Sunday, June 24, 6 p.m. 250-600 pesos.
Jalisco Phiharmonic Orchestra
A single performance of Mahler’s Ninth Symphony comprises the third program of the summer series. This work premiered in 1912 and was the final piece composed by Mahler before his death.
Conjunto de Artes Escénicas, Thursday, June 29, 8:30 p.m.
Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra
The first half of the fourth program will feature two Mozart piano concertos, with invited pianists Christine Gerwig, Efraín González and Alejandro González Gerwig. The orchestra interprets Franz Liszt’s Hunnenschlacht (The Battle of the Huns) and Wellington’s Victory, composed by Beethoven to commemorate the Duke of Wellington’s triumph over Joseph Bonaparte at the Battle of Vitoria in Spain in June 1813, in the latter section of the performance.
Teatro Degollado, Thursday, July 5, 8:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 8, 12:30 p.m.
Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra
The final program of the summer season sees the return to Guadalajara of virtuoso U.S. violinist Esther Yoo. The first ever artist-in-residence with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Yoo is acclaimed for her “dark, aristocratic tone” (Gramophone Magazine) and “impeccable artistry” (South Florida Classical Review). She first came to international attention in 2010 when aged 16 she became the youngest prizewinner of the 10th International Sibelius Violin Competition. She will be the soloist in Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77. The performance will end with Bela Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra, Sz.116.
Conjunto de Artes Escénicas, Thursday, July 12, 8:30 p.m. Teatro Degollado, Sunday, July 15, 12:30 p.m.
Cirque de Soleil’s love letter to Mexico
Cirque de Soleil, the hulking Leviathan of modern circus companies, has created a new show celebrating all things Mexican. It comes steaming into Guadalajara on August 30, leaving September 16.
“Luzia,” whose name combines “luz” (light) and “lluvia” (rain), purports to celebrate not only Mexican culture, but Mexico’s natural attributes, above all its water and light. The production, characteristically elaborate, employs about 115 people, 45 of which are artists from 19 countries (representing for Mexico is singer Majo Cornejo).
The show is directed – and was co-written by – renowned artist Daniele Finzi Pasca, while set design is the work of Eugenio Caballero, who won an Oscar for his work on Guillermo del Toro’s masterpiece “Pan’s Labyrinth.”
In addition to its two-week-plus residence in Guadalajara, Luzia will put down stakes in Monterrey, October 4-21, and Mexico City (the tour’s final destination), November 8-December 23. Tickets, 990 - 2,550 pesos, can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.mx.
GR RECOMMENDS: Romeo & Juliet
The Ballet de Jalisco, the state´s only professional classical troupe, presents this famous ballet composed by Sergei Prokofiev based on William Shakespeare’s acclaimed play. The show is choreographed by the troupe’s director, Dariusz Blajer. Music is by the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Marco Parisotto.
Teatro Degollado, Friday, June 1, 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 2, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 3, 12:30 p.m. 167-500 pesos.