Sounds sexy, right? Intriguing? This performance, the second in the Camerata Gordon Campbell series this year, sounds absolutely fabulous to me. It will take place on Sunday, January 11, at noon in the Angela Peralta Theater.
We all love art—listening to music or looking at paintings. What is even better to me, however, is when curators use music or visual art to tell us a story, to give us a glimpse into the lives of the artists—to take us with them into their lives. I love an exhibition that showcases the work of two friends who were painters, for example, comparing and contrasting their viewpoints, experiences, personalities and techniques. It’s so much more enriching than simply looking at the paintings and enjoying them. Such an approach accesses more of our senses simultaneously.
“Mozart and His Women” takes such an approach. It is musical tour de force, performed by the Chamber Orchestra, and it will be accompanied by readings from private letters between Mozart and his family and friends. So, we will hear the concerto that Mozart composed for his brother, Frederick, on the latter’s birthday, while we listen to the letter that Wolfgang wrote to him on that very occasion. Sound awesome?
The video below shows Gordon Campbell, Director of the Orquesta Sinfónica Sinaloa de las Artes and of the Camerata Gordon Campbell, and Guianeya Román, his collaborator and wife, as they talk about the genesis of this performance. Be sure to listen for what Mozart called one of his best friends—he may have been Mazatleco after all!
Joining the Chamber for this concert will be the wonderful Angelica Aragón. I know her as an actress in movies and telenovelas, the daughter of my beloved Ferrusquilla. So my first question to Gordon and his wife was, “Does she sing?” No, in “Mozart and His Women,” Angelica will be performing the roles of Mozart’s mother, sister and wife, as she reads from the letters. We may even see a cameo by Gordon himself, in a white powdered wig.
Be sure to get your season tickets for only 150 pesos each, or your ticket to this event only at the unbelievable price of 200 pesos. Tickets at the TAP box office or online (though, personally, I can never get the online payment to work). We are so very truly blessed here in Mazatlán!
I am doing this series on the Camerata, not because we want to start reporting here on this blog, but because we so often find out about events after the fact. Sure, we see the announcements ahead of time, but often we don’t really know what the various performances are about. And we are blessed with a plethora of terrific options here in Mazatlán! It is my hope that this “Behind the Chamber” series can help you to discern what the performances will involve—they are so exciting this year! Many thanks to the Maestro and his wife for spending time with us to give us some background details and build our excitement.
A twelve year old girl from Guadalajara plays piano so well that she has already performed in Europe and Asia, as well as in both the Palacio de las Bellas Artes and Carnegie Hall—where she received a standing ovation. Earlier this year she won the prestigious Premio Nacional de la Juventud award, given to outstanding young Mexicans between 12 and 28—when she had barely reached the minimum age.
The girl is Daniela Liebman, an incredibly hardworking and naturally talented musician, and she will be coming our way this Sunday, January 4, 2015. Her career is rising quickly, she’s in very high demand on the international stage, and this is most probably the last concert she will play for over a year. Daniela may well go on to world fame, and thanks to the annual Camerata Gordon Campbell series, we get to create lifelong memories right here, in our own Angela Peralta Theater, for only 200 pesos (less if you buy tickets to the full series).
Maestro Gordon Campbell, Director and Conductor of the Orquesta Sinfónica Sinaloa de las Artes, and his wife and collaborator, Guianeya Román, sat down with us to talk a bit about next Sunday’s concert, how they came to know Daniela, and how they were able to attract her to Mazatlán to perform for us.
Born to musically inclined parents—a US American father and a Mexican mother—the maestro and his wife tell us that Daniela is both an terrific artist and a very well-adjusted child: she loves reading, and often skips onto stage due to her excitement at performing. View the video of our interview, below:
We were told that the family is very dedicated to Daniela. Her father sat with her four hours a day when she was younger, helping her practice. Daniela’s parents have told Gordon that if at any time the gifted pianist does not wish to continue her musical training, she is free to choose whichever interests suit her. Soon the family will be moving to Fort Worth, Texas to continue her training with a well-known teacher there.
Be sure to get your season tickets for just 150 pesos each for the 8-concert series, while you can still choose the best seats. Tickets can be purchased online or at the Angela Peralta Theater box office.
Maestro Gordon Campbell and his wife and collaborator, Guianeya Román
I’ve long wanted to meet Maestro Gordon Campbell, the Midwestern US-born director and conductor of the OrquestaSinfónica Sinaloa de las Artes. I’ve been curious about how he manages such an internationally, interculturally diverse group of talented professionals, and how it is for him living and working in Mexico.
I know, you would be more interested in hearing about the incredible musical events he puts on—in his inimitable, down-to-earth and accessible manner. It’s a nice contrast to the pomp and circumstance of our other terrifically talented resident conductor.
I am interested in the music and the season, too, but I really have wanted to gain a bit of insight into the man and his interesting life. Come to find out, like me, he has lived most of his life outside the USA—primarily in Latin America, with a stint in Israel for good measure.
How did I find that out? Well, watch what you wish for, because this weekend we got a call from the Maestro himself, inviting us to join him for dinner—he wanted to brainstorm with us. Joining us at the table were Janet Blaser from M! Magazine, and Lisa Lankins from MazatlanMyCity. We were included thanks to Alfredo Gomez Rubio, of the Proyecto Centro Histórico Association and Pedro y Lola. And a beautiful dinner it was, on a crystal clear, warm and moon-filled late December evening.
It turns out that Gordon joined the Peace Corps back in the late 60s, primarily as an alternative to the Vietnam War draft. He was sent to Paraguay, where he played French horn in the national symphony and also secured 60 instruments to start a band at a school in Asunción. How? There were kids who wanted to play and couldn’t afford instruments. On his Christmas break, this young man returned to Ohio and asked his hometown friends and family to share their used instruments. They did, and the Phi Mu Alpha professional music fraternity at Youngstown State even refurbished and tuned what they received. The instruments were shipped to Paraguay, and a new band was born! Quite a difference one person can make!
As kind gestures tend to do, his grew. The band has since continued on, developed, and even toured internationally. Gordon was able to return to Paraguay in 2002, and by sheer fortuitousness met the band’s current director and attended one of their performances.
What is very cool is how this one small gesture had repercussions that will last multiple lifetimes. And, it inspired other, similar efforts. Gordon had a former Mexican student (he has lived and worked throughout Mexico, including Director of the Symphony in Aguas Calientes) who was moving to the USA with his wife. The wife was panicked: what would she do there as a “trailing spouse?” Gordon told her about a student band in Oaxaca that was in desperate need of instruments, and shared his Paraguay story with her. Perhaps she could help with that during her stay in the USA? Inspired, the woman embarked on the project and obtained instruments for the band in Oaxaca.
You can hear Gordon telling these stories and more in his own voice in the video below. Be sure to also listen to one of their very cool future plans for the Camerata—it could involve you!
The maestro is married to a beautiful and very intelligent journalist, Guianeya Román. It turns out that she is actively involved in promoting the Symphony, involved in the Culiacán Community Chorus, and collaborates with Gordon on special events such as the upcoming Mozart and His Women, with Angélica Aragón, the famous film and telenovela actress.
Gordon told us how in Mexico City (where he’s also worked) and other major cities in Latin America, Sundays at noon is “concert time.” People love knowing that every Sunday at noon there will be a concert; they easily schedule this into their week and enjoy an interlude of quality music before lunch and relaxation with the family. He thought such a series might be a terrific addition to the Mazatlán music scene, and the Camerata Gordon Campbell is now in its fourth year.
And does he have a fantastic season planned for us! They have gotten us so excited! Gordon and Guianeya ended up joining us at our home the afternoon after we met them, and there we recorded a video interview. I’ll share excerpts of that interview with you in several installments, under the title, “Behind the Chamber.”
I trust you’ll enjoy getting to know a bit about this incredibly talented expat, and hopefully you’ll get as excited as we are about the January 4-March 1 season. You can get tickets at the Angela Peralta box office, or online (though personally we can never get the online function to work). It is amazing what a man with passion, lifelong connections, and a shoestring budget can do! Thank goodness that we here in Sinaloa, and especially here in Mazatlán, are able to enjoy the fruits of Gordon’s passion.
Of great interest to me is that Gordon, this lived-his-whole-life-in-Latin-America director, knows Luis Szarán—the guy who started the Landfillharmonic that has become so hugely popular. I was beyond excited to hear that! He plans to visit Luis soon, and has hope that he will be visiting us here in Mazatlán! I am most definitely crossing my fingers and toes! Learn some of Luis’ background as Maestro Campbell tells the story, below (video is a bit blurry at points; sorry about that):
During our dinner we brainstormed about all kinds of things. I told Gordon how much I loved watching live symphony, opera, dance or theater in major world historical monuments, such as the Parthenon in Athens or the Coliseum in Rome. He shared with us that he has done similar things in Mexico, performing not just AT, but ON a pyramid. Personally I’d love to attend an outdoor concert at Las Labradas or a historic hacienda, such as Las Moras or Los Osuna. We talked about getting more Mazatlecos involved in the Chamber series, perhaps by reaching out to the students’ families at the Centro Municipal de las Artes.
It’s exciting to know that such a successful team, with such a great track record, is passionate about remaining innovative and accessible. If you have some ideas for the symphony or the Camerata series, send them to us or comment below! I believe all ideas are welcome; you never know what we’ll be hearing or seeing next!
And, now through March 1st, count on Sunday matinee concerts of international caliber, right here in Mazatlán!
What a welcome home! The callejoneada (alley parade) this year for Day of the Dead in Mazatlán was the best ever, if I dare say so! It was a perfect evening weather-wise: clear skies highlighted by a gorgeous crescent moon, and warm weather that was cool enough for comfort. More people and especially more complete families participated, more dressed up, the beer flowed more freely and was better organized, and the main costumed characters were spectacular!
This year’s event was a tribute to Maestro Rigo Lewis, the long-time creator of our unbelievably gorgeous Carnavál carrozas/floats, so the callejoneada for Day of the Dead had a Carnavalesque air to it this year; it was a beautiful fusion of two local traditions for which Mazatlán has international fame. Kudos and thanks to CULTURA and to the Centro Municipal de Arte staff and students! By the way, I’ve been told we will STILL this year AND next year in the Carnavál parade will have carrozas designed by Maestro Rigo! His legacy lives on, thanks to his hard work and passion.
Click on any of the images below to see it larger or to view a slideshow.
I loved how this Katrina had so many faces, thanks to Carnaval/DOD masks.
Ghostly revelers; I really enjoyed this fortuitous pic!
So young and gorgeous…pirates die, too.
Dancers can die young as well…. Such a festive celebration of our ancestors and departed friends this year.
The wee ones are always the cutest, particularly this sister and brother enjoying dinner at La Tramoya.
Mazatlecos! The main reason most of us so love it here! THIS is joie de vivre!
The free beer was given out from five different carts this year, and refilled a few times over the route. This year pitchers were used rather than everyone waiting for the tap.
Mother and daughter beauties.
Spinning fire dancers
More ghostly revelers, due to the rapid movement and the low light. I personally love it!
We had one very scary katrina this year!
Handsome lads to be departing this world so young
Maestro Rigos photo crowned this former Carnavál queen
Closeup of the tribute to Maestro Rigo Lewis.
This aerial of the crowd from CULTURA
The setting, our gorgeous architecture, is such the star of Day of the Dead
Jesters apparently retain their sense of humor in the afterlife.
I am sorry to have been so long away from this page, but after seven years it was wonderful to reconnect this summer with family and friends north of the border in a lengthier, more meaningful way. We were able to celebrate my aunt’s 80th birthday, be with my sister-cousin through surgery, and settle Danny into his dorm room and college life. For that I am ever grateful! Plus I had a month of work in Europe, where I met incredible people and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Of course we missed home, and our friends and family here, terribly.
Saturday night felt like our personal welcome home party, as we hugged loved ones everywhere we went. Funniest, to me, was how often I had to ask, “Who are you?” as the costumes were so excellent that they disguised identities quite effectively!
Apparently you can, indeed, take it with you to the grave!
Lovely people and gorgeous setting!
The hat, the parasol, gloves, dress and makeup were incredibly sophisticated.
So hard to have fun, you know… 😉
Great photo opps for posing our friends
As usual, some of the makeup was just unbelievably detailed, with full costumes to match!
Groups of good friends having makeup parties and then enjoying the night’s festivities
Every year a different costume and makeup, all gorgeous
Soon good to reconnect with good friends!
Smiles, smiles and more smiles. The warmth of this town is infectious.
I can’t imagine not dancing in the parade with the live music, if one is able to do so, as it is just so much fun! There are, however, many people who line the route to watch and enjoy, as well as those who camp out at front-row-seats in bars and restaurants to watch the parade pass by.
Terrific live music
The moon over the stilt-walkers
Even the beer servers were made up this year
Dad and daughter
The moon again
Life in the Plaza Machado after the callejoneada was a sight to behold as well. I unfortunately can’t tell you anything about the event inside the theater, as though we waited in line at the Machado for about 90 minutes to get tickets, they ran out long before it was our turn.
We met one woman who was here in town to celebrate her 50th birthday, all the way from Washington DC with two of her best girlfriends. They obviously brought complete Day of the Dead costumes with them for their holiday! We saw store-bought costumes, handmade costumes, traditional and modern versions, and fortunately there were many of us who were still alive and un-costumed to enjoy the rest!
50th birthday girl from DC on the right, her girlfriend on the left
Loved her approach!
Modern costuming makes things much easier!
A modern version of a costume. I need this dress!
Getting in on the fun
My absolute favorite moment of the evening, and there were so many awesome ones to choose from, was as the callejoneada entered the plazuela. Just in front of the theater, a group of young men started cheering loudly, dancing and jumping around. “Güero! “Güero!” they were shouting. As I turned around to see what all the happy commotion was about, I realized they were cheering on my partner, Greg. He was dancing happily, having been soaked with beer head to toe earlier in the evening.
CULTURA TV is going to stream it’s video of the callejoneada this Wednesday, November 5, at 5:00 pm local time. Be sure to check it out! There are many more aspects of Day of the Dead in Mazatlán; the callenjoneada is just one activity. This blog post can give you a broader idea for your trip. I know my favorites include making an altar to remember my departed family members and friends, as well as remembering them in Mass each year. We hope you’ll join us so we can dance with you all next year!
In preparation, CULTURA got in on the action this week with a series of three Japanese movies, subtitled in Spanish. While the free tickets were given out within just an hour or two, and those of us living outside Centro Histórico, as usual, were not privileged to get any, we have been able to get a seat the past two nights. The last movie in the series will show tonight, Wednesday, at 7:00 in Casa Haas. Oh how I have enjoyed them! Greg has generously accompanied me to each of the two so far; hopefully he will again tonight, despite what he’d prefer to be doing.
Then on Friday night, also at Casa Haas but beginning at 6:00 pm, will be an exposition on the history and impact of Japanese immigration in Sinaloa state. Yes, I am so excited!!!! I hope to see you there.
Below is a short recap of the three movies in the series.
Monday’s Movie: 生きる、Vivir, the award-winning 1952 Kurosawa classic
I’ve seen “Ikiru” several times. It’s the only Kurosawa movie of that period that does not feature Mifune, and it was required viewing in the 1970s when I first studied Japanese. This was my first time to view it in Mexico, however, and the similarities I noted between my two oh-so-different adopted cultures were really striking. The protagonist, who’s dying of cancer, goes out on the town at one point, and despite the kimono and tatami you’d swear he visited Mazatlán—from La Botana to trumpets in a banda surprising you from behind and poorly sung karaoke, it was puro Mazatleco. The main character (Watanabe-san) is a city official who works in a dysfunctional bureaucracy in which very little gets done and nearly no one thinks about community needs, and at one point he has to navigate the Yakuza (mafia) visiting the vice-Mayor’s office. Sound familiar? I thoroughly enjoyed this re-viewing.
I had not previously seen this movie, nor am I familiar with this director, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The film so well captured everyday Japanese life—the love of nature, cooking and eating (it sure made me hungry!), respect for elders and ancestors, the pace of conversation, the communalism of family life. The people in this movie were bitterer than most Japanese I know, but it is, after all, a movie, and a movie needs tension.
This is the story of a businessman who learns that his six-year old son is not his biologically, but that two boys were switched in the hospital at birth. Now he must choose between the son he has raised and his blood kin. Sounds pretty interesting but, for me, the real joy is hearing the Japanese language, the sounds of my other adopted home, and feeling as if I’ve visited this other land I am so very fond of. なんて懐かしい！！！
¡VidaMaz! 