Mexican music took centre stage in the final stop of the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra's fascinating journey around the world, with concerts from the corresponding cycle. The program began with the nostalgia for the beauties and peculiarities of this country by American composer Aaron Copland, who loved Mexico and wrote "El Salón México" based on its traditional melodies and dances.
This was followed by a gem of guitar repertoire, Manuel Ponce's "Concierto del Sur," performed by Vojin Kocić. He brought the Latin American sense of rhythms and the characteristic melancholy of Mexican music to the hall in a particularly demanding performance, which he dedicated emotionally to the memory of his teacher Oscar Ghiglia. The Serbian virtuoso also participated the next day in the tribute to Oscar Ghiglia by TSSO and the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, as part of the Dimitria Festival.
The program concluded with the impressive symphonic suite "La Noche de los Mayas" by Silvestre Revueltas, from the music of the film of the same name. The experienced conductor Terje Mikkelsen safely guided the orchestra through the complex musical paths of the work and the mood changes, as the orchestra musically narrated the tragic love story of the film. The audience will remember the impressive finale of the suite with the 12 different percussion instruments, in the primordial ritual dance of the Mayas, which is the climax of the work.
The audience warmly applauded the orchestra at the end, and the musicians rewarded the conductor for their excellent collaboration once again.