The program will revive one of the most important works in the history of national popular music composed by maestro Luis Advis and arranged by Osiel Vega Durán.

September, month of festivities, chichas, cuecas and empanadas. However, this year has been marked by the arrival of the coronavirus and the suspension of all mass activities that have been forced to change from in-person to online. As is typical of these dates and respecting the mandatory quarantine, the University of La Serena Symphony Orchestra is preparing to offer a new musical journey, which on this occasion will pay tribute to maestro Luis Advis (1935-2004) and one of the most important works of the history of Chilean popular music.

This is the 'Adaptation for strings of the Cantata Popular Santa María de Iquique' by the Chilean musician Osiel Vega Durán, who, inspired by the melodies of Advis, makes a sublime proposal with the sounds of the strings, giving them a new vision and value to the music (2007), which can be seen on Thursday, September 17 on the cast's Facebook Live.

The emblematic work will be performed by the professional cast of the Estrella Region, made up of the violinists: Paulina Elgueta, Cecilia Olmos, Daniela Gayoso, Juan Pablo Luengo and Vanessa Flores; Polyana Brehmer and Lorenzo Cabellos, in charge of the violas; Diego Álvarez and Iván Rivas, on the cellos; and Andrés Carvajal, on double bass. The string ensemble also includes the prominent Serenense musician, Raúl 'Talo' Pinto, who will be the presenter of the aforementioned program.

In conversation with the local performer and State Music Professor at the ULS Music Department, he stated that the verses written by Luis Advis are “quite complex in the sense that they speak of a very crude reality that occurred at that time, in 1907.” , a little before and a little after too, and that has continued to happen. What happens is that in this case, in the artistic part, it has allowed it to become known, to have lasted over time and to allow people to appreciate what happened at some point, which is quite real, quite raw and the The truth is that I try to give it the corresponding meaning; speaking as slowly as possible, with the best modulation so that people can fully understand each of the words expressed there,” he indicated by telephone.

This 2020, the acclaimed work commemorates 50 years since its premiere (1970) and, as is known, recounts the massacre that occurred at the Santa María de Iquique School in 1907. For the Regional Orchestra it is very important to present this work as part of its Spring Season, framed in 'A season like no other', since “it is one of the icons of national music that was composed by a great Chilean composer such as Luis Advis and that, in this case, will be arranged by Osiel Vega, a teacher who gives a new look to this beautiful music by choosing, on this occasion, string instruments for his interpretation,” explained OSULS artistic director, Leonardo Godoy Sepúlveda.

The III Official Season Concert, like the previous concerts of this annual program, will be broadcast through the Facebook Live of the professional ensemble (@Orquesta Sinfónica Universidad de La Serena), on Thursday, September 17 at 20:00 p.m. thanks to the support and financing, by Glosa of the National Budget, granted by the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage as part of its Network of Professional Regional Orchestras, and the University of La Serena.

Written by Camila Pérez, University of La Serena Symphony Orchestra