Bacewicz, Martinus, and Tchaikovsky: Strength, Premiere, and Destiny in Program 4 of the Minería Symphony Orchestra
The Minería Symphony Orchestra’s 2026 Summer Season continues with a program that brings together historical memory, contemporary composition, and one of the most intense symphonies in the Romantic repertoire. Program 4 will be presented on Saturday, July 25, at 8:00 p.m. and on Sunday, July 26, at 12:00 p.m., at […]
The Monumental Brahms: Tips for Listening to Program 2 of the Minería Symphony Orchestra’s 2026 Summer Season
The Minería Symphony Orchestra’s 2026 Summer Season continues with a program devoted entirely to Johannes Brahms, featuring two monumental works—both in scale and historical significance: the Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor and Symphony No. 1 in C minor. This program […]
Strauss, Vasks, and Prokofiev: A Guide to Listening to Program 1 of the Minería Symphony Orchestra’s 2026 Summer Season
The Minería Symphony Orchestra’s 2026 Summer Season opens with a program of contrasts: the fiery energy of Richard Strauss, the luminous spirituality of Pēteris Vasks, and the monumental power of Sergei Prokofiev. Program 1 will be presented on Saturday, July 4, at 8:00 p.m. and on Sunday, July 5 […]
Minería Symphony Orchestra's 2026 Summer Season: 48 Years of Musical Excellence
The 2026 Summer Season arrives at a historic moment for the Minería Symphony Orchestra. Following its debut at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall as part of a ten-concert tour of the United States, the orchestra returns to Mexico with the strength of a legacy that began in 1978: 48 years of dedication, commitment […]
Who was Richard Wagner?
If you're wondering, "Who was Richard Wagner?", the first thing you should know is that his art revolutionized the history of music for a variety of reasons, chief among them the invention of the concept of the leitmotif: melodic themes associated with sensations, feelings, destinies, longings, and premonitions that vary and recur throughout a work, […]
Who was Grażyna Bacewicz? The composer who transformed form into modern energy
Grażyna Bacewicz was a Polish composer, violinist, pianist, and writer. She was born in Łódź on February 5, 1909, and died in Warsaw on January 17, 1969. Form was always her focus. “In my compositions, I focus above all on form. When you’re building something, you don’t just pile a stone on top of […]
Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf: What's it about? (according to my daughter)
Sergei Prokofiev’s *Peter and the Wolf* is a wonderful activity I share with my daughter. Once a week, before her bath time, we put on the ballet version. Sitting very still in her chair, she waits for the music to begin with a smile. It’s a sense of anticipation and joy. A routine that stimulates […]
Moby Dick, the opera by Jake Heggie
Herman Melville tells the story of Moby Dick through Ishmael’s memories. The perspective is intimate and nostalgic. Actions, emotions, and characters exist in the memory of the only man who survived a shipwreck. It is all over; it is a story with no tomorrow. And the voice is evocative and deeply tragic. The opera in […]
What does a conductor do? The example of Pierre Monteux
Are you wondering what an orchestra conductor does? We’re here to answer that question. If all the musicians already have their sheet music on their music stands, why do we need someone with a baton in their hand making strange gestures? Is it just for show? No. Their role has to do with the performance. That’s why […]
Who was Pierre Boulez?
When Pierre Boulez (1925–2016) died 10 years ago, I said that his music reminded me of a curmudgeon’s smile. Now, as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth, the images that come to mind are less cynical. If someone were to ask me, “Who was Pierre Boulez?”, I would no longer limit myself to pointing out the destructive intent in his […]
