A successful musical journey is what the La Serena University Symphony Orchestra promises for mid-July, taking a tour of works from romanticism to impressionism.

The music continues to bring joy and fill the Municipal Theater of La Serena. On this occasion, a new country on the European continent will be honored by the La Serena University Symphony Orchestra, along with the masterful performance of three famous national musicians, the guest conductor José Luis Domínguez, the harp soloist Patricia Reyes and the violin soloist Leonardo Godoy, in a colossal program of 'The Symphony of Cultures'.

All these attributes will be combined in the V Concert of the Season, an unmissable event that seeks to exalt the colors of France with five select pieces for orchestra and instrument; starting the presentation with 'Variations on a French Theme' composed by the violist and guest conductor for this new programming, José Luis Domínguez; and then continue with an outstanding figure of European music from the late XNUMXth century and early XNUMXth century, Claude Debussy, and his work called 'Sacred and Profane Dances for Harp and String Orchestra'. The tour also includes two works by the French composer recognized as the master of orchestration, Maurice Ravel, with 'Introduction and Allegro - Tzigane' and 'Le tombeau de couperin'; to end with the 'Introduction and capricious rondo' by the director, organist and pianist Camille Saint Saëns.

“The program was chosen by the orchestra and it is an absolutely precious repertoire that we are preparing dedicated to France. It is really beautiful, very varied, with works that are very different from each other, and I am sure that the public will appreciate it a lot," explained Maestro Domínguez, who has positioned himself as one of the most audacious Chilean directors, currently being Music Director of the New Jersey Symphony Academy. Next Friday, July 13, José Luis will travel from the United States to reconnect with the city where he was born and trained as a musician, to share the stage with the professional group from the Coquimbo Region: “it is always pleasant and exciting to come to the homeland and working with my city's orchestra is a priority, so I am very happy about it."

Domínguez will not only have the opportunity to conduct five fascinating French works, but one of them is his own, being the overture to this indelible musical journey: “the composition is due to a special request from the orchestra, it is a work short and very simple but it is written especially for them, so it has not been touched on anywhere else. It is a gift dedicated to them and I see it as a kind of preamble to something bigger that I would like to write to the orchestra and my city in the medium-future term,” emphasized the Serenense director and composer.

Regarding the repertoire that the soloists will star in, the concertmaster of the ensemble belonging to the Network of Regional Professional Orchestras of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, Leonardo Godoy, commented that the pieces that will be exhibited represent virtuoso works from the great violin repertoire. , starting with the work 'Tzigane' where it will evoke “the gypsy-inspired sound that Ravel wanted to impregnate, since it begins with a violin solo and then integrates with the orchestra, achieving passages of great energy and different colors.” Subsequently, the public will witness “one of the best-known works of the composer Camille Saint Saëns, 'Introduction and capricious rondo', dedicated to the famous violinist Pablo de Sarasate. It is a piece of great virtuosity, perfectly combining passages of high technical complexity and expressiveness,” Godoy explained.

The program of this new concert of 'The Symphony of Cultures' will also feature the mastery and audacity of the harpist Patricia Reyes, who currently works as a harp professor at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Chile, after having won the competition held for the position. Likewise, she is a harp soloist of the Universidad de Concepción Symphony Orchestra and this 2018 she has projected her work as a soloist, strengthening commitments with the Temuco Philharmonic Orchestra and the professional orchestra of the Coquimbo Region. “We are pleased and honored to receive Patricia as a soloist in this program, after many years in which a harpist did not visit us. She will perform two compositions in the first part of the concert with works by Debussy and Ravel, in the piece 'Tzigane' we will share the stage enjoying many passages together,” said Leonardo Godoy.

The presentation in tribute to 'Les couleurs de la France' will take place at the Municipal Theater of La Serena next Friday, July 13 at 20:00 p.m. For those who wish to attend this unique presentation, 120 free withdrawal invitations have been made available. The general public and older adults may go to the offices of the Seremía de las Culturas, Artes y Heritage (Colón #848), La Serena Public Library (Colón #495, corner Balmaceda), Gabriela Mistral Regional Library (Juan José Latorre #782 ) and/or Municipal Theater of La Serena (Benavente #580). While school students and students from the University of La Serena should go to the Extension Office of the ULS Music Department (Larraín Alcalde s/n, between Los Jardines and Seminario). Those who are unable to withdraw their invitation will be able to purchase tickets at the municipal venue box office on the same day of the event, with prices ranging from $3.000 for the general public and $2.000 for seniors, school students and the University of La Serena, presenting their credential.

It should be noted that this presentation has the support and financing of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, through Glosa de Presupuesto Nacional since 2016; added to the collaboration provided by the University of La Serena and the Illustrious Municipality of La Serena, through its Department of Culture and the Municipal Theater.

Source: Press Symphony Orchestra University of La Serena