Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra

History

The Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1978 by the National Government of Mexico through an initiative by Carmen Romano, wife of then President of Mexico, José López Portillo. The Philharmonic was part of a plan to make fine arts education accessible to youths. The government launched classical music workshops and formed professional orchestras, including the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra. Fernando Lozano Rodríguez (es) was the founding conductor. The Philharmonic's venue name, ollín yoliztli, means "life movement" or "life force" in Náhuatl.

Directors, members, and notable soloists

Guest conductors have included Leonard Bernstein, Eduardo Mata, and Enrique Diemecke. Guest soloists have included Martha Argerich, Narciso Yepes, Nicanor Zabaleta, Renata Scotto, Birgit Nilsson, Claudio Arrau, Janos Starker, Isaac Stern, Placido Domingo, and María Teresa Rodríguez (es). Artistic directors are appointed by the Secretary of Culture of Mexico City.

Artistic directors

1978–1982: Fernando Lozano Rodríguez (es)

1983–1989: Enrique Bátiz Campbell, made 19 recordings with the Mexico City Philharmonic, as conductor

1990–????: Luis Herrera de la Fuente

1998–????: Jorge Mester

Enrique Barrios (es)

2013–2016: José Areán, appointed Artistic Director January 2013

2016–present: Scott Yoo, appointed Artistic Director and Chief Conductor, February 2016

Principal guest conductors

2011–2013: José Areán, appointed Principal Guest Director June 2011

Assistant conductors

1980–1983: Enrique Diemecke (born 1955)

Associate conductors

1998–2002: Carlos Miguel Prieto (born 1965)

Musicians

1978–1979: Jerome (Jerry) Ashby (1956–2007), french horn; became associate principal french horn with the New York Philharmonic in 1979

Morris T. Kainuma (born 1959), tuba; appointed principal tuba in 1980; currently a freelance and educator in the New York City area

John Emmanuel Godoy (1959) was appointed Principal Timpanist in 1987. During his tenure, the Mexico City Philharmonic performed four concerts with tenor Placido Domingo, including recording Lalo Schifrin's world premiere of "Cantos Aztecas". Godoy later won the Principal Timpani position with the Corpus Christi Symphony under Mstro. Giordano. In 2011 he founded the Lux Musicae Chamber group and became its Artistic Director.

Awards and critical acclaim

The Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra has made over a hundred recordings, most of which have been the works of Mexican composers. The Philharmonic is reputed to be most prolifically recorded orchestra of music by Mexican composers. In 1981, the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra won the Academie du Disque Francais Grand Prize for its recording of "Mexican Ballets" by Blas Galindo, José Pablo Moncayo, and Carlos Chávez. Fernando Lozano Rodríguez (es) was the conductor. The jury stated that the Philharmonic was the best in Latin America.

In 2001, the Mexico City Philharmonic was nominated for "Best Classical Recording" in the inaugural Latin Grammy Awards. The Mexican Union and Theater Critics Philharmonic Mexico City and Music as the best of the year, calling it "The Best Orchestra of Mexico, 2000."

Selected discography

Works of De Falla, Desto DC 7216 (1982); OCLC 24746534

Classical Music of Mexico, Desto DC 7218 (1982); OCLC 16351742

Music of Revueltas, Desto DC 7215 (1982); OCLC 16351737

Gabriel Fauré, Musical Heritage Society (1991); OCLC 23294557

Recorded in 1989 at the Nezahualcóyotl Concert Hall (es), Mexico City

1. Concerto, for Violin and Orchestra (world premier recording)
2. Berceuse, for violin and orchestra, Op. 16 (Video on YouTube}
3. Elegie, for cello and orchestra Op. 24
4. Overture, from Masques et Bergamasques, Op. 112
5. Nocturne, from Shylock, Op. 57
6. Pelléas et Mélisande: Suite, Op. 80

Rodolfo Bonucci, violin (grandson of the Italian cellist, Arturo Bonucci (1894–1964) (it); Viocheslav Ponomarev (1950–2009), cello; Enrique Bátiz, conductor

Salute to Democracy, EMI Classics CDC 7 54539 2 (1992); OCLC 30429188

1. Fanfare for the Common Man
2. Lincoln Portrait

Enrique Bátiz, conductor