The seventh presentation of 2018 was conducted by the American maestro David Händel, and featured the colossal performance of the French horn soloist, Alejandro Meléndez.

With four outstanding works in tribute to 'Chile & Latin America', the University of La Serena Symphony Orchestra gave its VII Season Concert in the colonial city on the occasion of a new celebration of National Holidays. The event brought together not only great artists, but also had the presence of students belonging to the 'We Learn Access' Program of the Elqui Valley, and the cultural representatives of the United States Embassy in Chile.

On this occasion, the new sound of 'The Symphony of Cultures' was conducted by the prominent North American conductor David Händel, and the brilliant interpretation of the French horn concert pianist, Alejandro Meléndez, who conquered the audience with a bold repertoire without borders: 'Paisaje Urbano', by the composer and winner of the Altazor and National Music Prize, Guillermo Rifo; the 'Concert for horn and strings' by Chilean Carlos Zamora; the work 'Fuga y Misterio', by the Argentine bandoneonist and composer Astor Piazzolla, and the piece called 'Sinfonietta Nº 1', by the Brazilian musician Heitor Villa-Lobos.  

Jaime Díaz, who attended a concert by the symphonic ensemble for the first time, indicated that he had a very exciting experience: “I found out about this concert through the news and my wife and I wanted to come and listen to this repertoire, which I thought was excellent, I I really liked the soloist's performance and the horn concerto, as well as Piazolla's work. I was pleasantly surprised and it was a very nice experience to come to this orchestra presentation (…). Furthermore, I leave with the pleasure that you can still enjoy this level of spectacle without having to leave your own region.”

For his part, the soloist invited to this seventh season program confessed that “I felt very comfortable participating with the orchestra, since I had all the support of my colleagues, the director himself, and the public; and that is perceived and gave me a lot of peace of mind to play such a significant repertoire of Chilean culture", also expressing that the work written by the composer Carlos Zamora included its own challenge since "this piece has many technical elements, such as high notes, jumps, it covers the entire register of the instrument and many timbres, which makes it difficult to interpret since it rescues national folkloric elements and at that point I also wanted to give it my mark, that is why in the cadence I rescued a traditional Chilean song like 'El Costillar' with which I generated a counterpoint with the public and the instrument,” said the Serenense musician.

Those who also widely enjoyed this programming were the students of the 'We Learn Access' Program of the Elqui Valley, schoolchildren belonging to the Liceo Mistraliano of Paihuano and the Edmundo Cárdenas School of Peralillo. Ángel Godoy is one of the students included in the program, who enjoyed the professional ensemble thanks to the invitation extended by the United States Embassy in Chile: “coming and enjoying this concert seemed magnificent to me, because they are entertaining cultural spaces that They encourage us not only to learn a second language, but also to become interested in art. Personally, I love music, in fact, I belong to an orchestra in the Elqui Valley and I find that manifesting itself through sounds is incredible, it was a very pleasant night indeed.”

In this presentation and like every year, the United States Embassy in Chile provided its valuable support and sponsorship to the professional orchestra of the Coquimbo Region, along with the professionalism of one of the most acclaimed conductors around the world, David Händel. . In the words of Sandra Perroni, cultural specialist at the Embassy, ​​the existing alliance between both entities “it is very important for us, both in our programming and priorities, that Master Händel is here doing classes and sharing with the public through music. ; We precisely want both cultures to gain knowledge and experiences (...), and in this case, the director was right in the programming that they announced together with the orchestra, since it was very attractive for these young people who are learning English, and who now, “They leave with another new knowledge through art and music.”

While Katherine Hall, deputy cultural attaché of the government entity, added that “the support of the United States Embassy in Chile has been consistent with the work of the Universidad de La Serena Symphony Orchestra, where we know it has borne very good results, through the support of various executive, cultural and exchange programs for the benefit of both countries. Working with David Händel has been very beneficial and enriching, since he shares with the students of La Serena and their musicians, allowing us to continue enjoying his music,” she said.

It should be noted that the 2018 concert season is carried out thanks to the financing granted since 2016 by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, through Glosa de Presupuesto Nacional, added to the important sponsorship of the United States Embassy. in Chile, and the collaboration of the University of La Serena and the Illustrious Municipality of La Serena, through its Department of Culture and the Municipal Theater.

These days, the group belonging to the Network of Professional Regional Orchestras of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage is already preparing its October musical program, which includes chamber concerts with territorial extension in the city of Coquimbo, and the masterful participation that he will have in the 'Jorge Peña Hen Musical Festival' together with the Vocal Ensemble of the University of La Serena, where they will be in charge of closing the regional meeting with a sublime tribute to the lesser-known facet of the maestro: that of a born composer and musical arranger

Source: Press Symphony Orchestra University of La Serena