A huge, enthusiastic audience packed the Auditorio de la Ribera on Saturday, August 9, as yet again the Centro Regional de Estudios Musicales’ (CREM) Concierto de Verano proved to be a winner for one and all.
Two of CREM’s students welcomed the audience to the Summer Concert – Andrea Michelle Ochoa in Spanish and Mauro Ramos in English. Their deportment and delivery was impressive when they addressed the crowd, particularly considering their age.
Following a similar program to its popular June fundraiser, first up was the Orquesta Infantil del CREM, conducted by Director Emmanuel Medeles Medina. The first violinist was ten-year-old Mauro Ramos and the pianist was Diana Pérez.
They opened with their consistently impressive performance of Richard Meyer’s “Sahara Crossing.” Always an audience favorite, the musicians had to wait for the applause to subside before they could continue. Here again, this young orchestra’s version of Mancini’s “Pink Panther” was so vivid that the image of Inspector Clouseau must have crossed the minds of many in the audience.
Klava Badelt’s poignant and mellow “He’s a Pirate” was greatly enhanced by the skillful clarinet playing of Fabian Palma, before the set closed with a delightful version of “Beauty and the Beast” by Alan Menken.
Next, fresh from performing at the Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara, the ever-smiling members of the Coro Infantil del CREM, aged from six to 16, entered the stage and took their positions on a platform behind the orchestra.
Accompanied by Saúl Ibarra, age 13, on piano, the choir delivered its usual exquisite harmony in “La Orquesta” by Canon W. Geisler.
Azael Medeles then took over the piano and the choir sang “Vois sur ton Chemin” by Christophe Barratier and Bruno Coulais. The plucked strings and lovely voices, together with Palma’s clarinet, combined to make this a very moving piece.
Amairani García and Diana Pérez sang impressive solos during the tender and emotive “Caresse Sur L’Océan,” also by Barratier and Coulais. García was then joined by Diana Medelez for Lloyd Webber’s “Pie Jesu.” This was so beautifully done, that I found myself holding my breath at the exceptionally high soprano, while my neck hairs got their usual workout from the whole choir.
Ending the first half, the choir sang the traditional South African hymn “We are Marching.” They always thoroughly enjoy this happy song – clicking their fingers and marching on the spot in time with the music. The audience soon joined in, clapping to the rhythm.
After the intermission, the Orquesta de Cámara Victor Manuel Medeles entered, with conductor Emmanuel Medeles Medina, first violinist Medina Diego Rojas Miramontes and pianist Saúl Ibarra.
The dramatic and dark “Verano Porteño” by Astor Piazzolla was very polished and Miramontes’ solo violin was masterly. His violin later took up the theme in Piazolla’s “Invierto Porteño,” after the beautifully sensitive cello of Areli Medeles Medina, had followed Ibarra’s sad and thoughtful piano.
José Eduardo Garcia’s arrangement of Piazolla’s “Adiós Nonino” was begun by soloist Ibarra on the piano, with a very complex and sad introduction. The orchestra then picked up the main theme. First violin and soloist Diego Rojas’ plaintive violin was joined by secondary violin soloist Paris Ayala Buenrostro, who took up the refrain.
A highly emotive work, Ibarra’s expertly executed fingering was soon accompanied by the disconcertingly scratchy sounding “sandpaper” effect, achieved by playing on the strings behind the bridge. It was superb!
The piano and violin soloists’ expertise was essential in Garcia’s arrangement of Victor Manuel Medeles’ “En Mi Corazón.” Daniel Estrada’s clarinet provided a magical contrast to more “scratching” from the violins, while Ibarra’s piano playing was outstanding and, in one section, reminiscent of the gravity and resonance of Addinsell’s “Warsaw Concerto.”
Closing with Garcia’s arrangement of Consuelo Velásquez’ “Bésame Mucho.” the audience was immediately on its feet demanding an encore, which it received.
Further pleas fell on deaf ears, but no-one was left in any doubt that CREM’s summer concert was a huge and resounding success.