The sixth official concert of the year was shared with the public of Coquimbo and La Serena. This last presentation, within the framework of the 475 years of life of the regional capital.

'Anger, Struggle & Passion' were the feelings materialized in two presentations around the sixth concert of the season by the Universidad de La Serena Symphony Orchestra, in the company of the prominent Spanish concert pianist, Elisa Rodríguez Sádaba (violoncello), and the conducting of one of the most acclaimed directors in the world, David Handel.

The musical journey arrived at the Performing Arts Room of the Palace Cultural Center of Coquimbo and the Aula Magna of the Ignacio Domeyko Campus of the ULS. This latest presentation, within the framework of a new anniversary of the second oldest city in Chile, which celebrated its 475 years of life in a big way. At the event, a repertoire as sublime as it was energetic was presented, with works by great masters of universal music and a piece of Chilean origin written by the composer originally from Viña del Mar, Valeria Valle, titled 'Code XX: Carne de tu carne' .

'When I saw that the season had this name - I said - my work couldn't be more ad hoc, because it finally transmits all that energy that the name of the program has; So I think 'Anger, Fight & Passion' is the constant. I feel super honored to be part, for the second time, of the orchestra's billboard; I think it has been a super interesting path that some stable bodies in Chile have been developing, which have been incorporating women's music into their repertoire. “I feel super grateful to be in a program as intense as this one, it is very beautiful,” said the Buenos Aires composer.

The feminine force continued with the performance of Dimitri Shostakovich's first cello concerto, in the hands of the daring Spanish concert pianist, Elisa Rodríguez. This concerto, composed in 1959, represents a neat mix of powerful musical ideas and virtuosity, challenging the technical and musical qualities of the performer. “This concert is a beast and is very energy-consuming, but I love it,” revealed the soloist, who began studying this work for the first time at the age of 15.

The evening culminated with Symphony No. 3, titled 'The Scot', Op.56, written by Félix Mendelssohn; one of the favorite works of the master David Handel, at the hands of this German genius: “although it is a symphony in the formal sense, like each of his symphonies, Mendelssohn had a special ability to poetically capture a certain essence of the cultural environment and musical. From what he captured, he managed to express it in his work so that the listening public perceived the same thing, a monumental talent. If we talk about literature, it would be Shakespeare or Cervantes, in this case it would be Mendelssohn,” he assured.

Currently, the Symphony Orchestra is preparing its seventh concert of the 2019 season, with another great selection of national works. An event that will put the finishing touch to the XVI MUSICAHORA Contemporary Music Festival, which will be led by the great David Handel and will feature the brilliant performance of the restless Serenense musician and first oboe player of the professional ensemble, José Luis Urquieta. The presentations will take place next Thursday, September 5 in the Performing Arts Room of the Palace Cultural Center (Aldunate #599). To then replicate this same artistic proposal in the Aula Magna of the Ignacio Domeyko Campus of the University of La Serena (Benavente #980) on Friday the 6th of that month. Both concerts will take place at 20:00 p.m. and have free entry, without withdrawal of invitations, up to the total capacity of the venues.

It should be noted that this season is carried out thanks to the support and financing of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, which since 2016 has been attached to the National Budget Glosa; in addition to the important institutional support provided by the University of La Serena, through the Directorate of Linkage with the Environment and Extension (DIVEULS); the Municipality of La Serena, through its Department of Culture; and the Municipality of Coquimbo in conjunction with its Department of Culture.

Written by Camila Pérez, University of La Serena Symphony Orchestra