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Toledo Symphony presents
State Symphony of México
as part of its Peristyle Visiting Artisits Series
Feb. 27, 2008
8:00PM
419-246-8000
http://www.toledosymphony.com/performances/special/mexico.html
ORQUESTA SINFONICA DEL ESTADO DE MEXICO
On August 27, 1971, under the initiative of Enrique Bátiz Campbell and the government of the State of Mexico, the Symphonic Orchestra (OSEM) of this state was founded, with the purpose of spreading music as an art as a means of creating union and identity among the citizens of the state. Located in the city of Toluca, and having as its home hall the Sala Felipe Villanueva, the Orchestra has been characterized since the start by its endeavor to carry its message to all the municipalities of the state, to all corners of the country. It was also the first institution of its kind to visit the 16 political divisions of the Federal District. Soon it was giving concerts in the main settings of the capital of the country, from the Bellas Artes theater and National Auditorium to the Sala Nezahualcoyotls, as well as other halls in the outlying areas such as the San Benito Abad theater of the Centro Escolar del Lago in the municipality of Cuautitlán, which, in spite of its location, 40 kilometers from the center of the city, seems to be destined to become the favorite hall for the metropolitan public, not only from the area, because of its admirable acoustic conditions and the comfort of the hall.
In 2000 the OSEM performed at the Fourth Festival of the Historic Center of Campeche and the following year the Orchestral Festival organized by the Nacional Council for Culture and Arts. For 6 years the orchestra has carried out a Festival in Valle de Bravo, in the state of Mexico, showing through it how excellent art can be when it is the result of a joint effort of the living forces of the country. In 1975 the OSEM made its first tour to the United States, returning continuously for three years starting in 1979, playing in the most important cities. In 2002 it toured for the first time in Germany and returning to Europe in 2003 and 2005.
Between 1983 and 1985 the orchestra was under the direction of maestro Manuel Suarez, and later, until 1989 Eduardo Diaz Muñoz.
The promotion of new musical talents, which has been an objective of the orchestra since its beginnings, has given fruits not only in the many talents developed within it, from which forty excellent soloist have evolved, but also in the discovery and encouragement of young performers, through the “International Henryk Szeryng Violin Contest” begun in 1992, which, in the four times it has been held, has enjoyed the presence of the most notable aspiring violinist of the world and has rewarded a dozen of them.
Through the thirty three years of its existence, the Symphonic Orchestra of the State of Mexico has hosted innumerable guest directors and soloist chosen from the most outstanding in the world. It would take too long to mention them all.
The recordings of the Osem cover the broadest range of any Mexican orchestra. Within them special mention can be made of the recordings dedicated to the works of Verdi and Rossini, Mexican and Spanish music, with the works of Isaac Albéniz, Joaquin Rodrigo, Manuel M. Ponce and Carlos Chavez standing out, but most of all the integral series of the symphonies of Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms and Tchaikovsky.
Both, the orchestra and its artistic director have repeatedly received the Annual Award from the Mexican Union of Chroniclers of Teat her and Music given for its 25th anniversary, by the Fist Festival of Classical Music in 1996 with the participation of other orchestras in the country, as well as for its promotion of musical activities in Mexico.
A significant accomplishment of the OSEM helped by the Trust Foundation has been the institutionalization the Festival Valle de Bravo year after year, since 1997. Concerts of this Festival take place in this lovely town in Valle de Bravo as well as in the theater of Bellas Artes in Mexico City, the most important national setting. In 2003 the OSEM realized a European Tour performing in Spain, Poland, Germany and France. In 2005 this orchestra traveled to Paris, France and offered two concerts, one in Sala Gaveau and the other in Theater Mogador with an extraordinary success. In September 2005 the OSEM traveled to the Popular Republic of China to offer six concerts in the most important cities of this country including Changsha, Shanghai, Shenyang, Harbin and Beijing
As the third millennium begins, the Symphonic Orchestra of the State of Mexico and its Director, Enrique Batiz, enjoy well deserved fame as the most important musical group of the country, and the institution holds high the flag of quality, founded in love of its labor and the ceaseless search for excellence.
LEONEL MORALES
La perfecta combinación de unas excepcionales dotes naturales, técnica, talento e inspiración, han convertido a Leonel Morales en uno de los pianistas más brillantes y versátiles de su generación, con una trayectoria de concertista completamente jalonada de éxitos.
...Manifiesta belleza sonora, técnica sólida, gran dinámica que no satura nunca...es objetivamente soberbio LA LIBRE BELGIQUE. ...Dispone de una brillante técnica, un fino sentido de la armonía y un fuerte temperamento SALZBURGER NACHRICHTEN.
...Pianísta Bravísimo; Técnica colosal, con soltura no forzada y dominada con precisión HAMBURGER ABENDBLATTHANFEFTTAD.
En la gira de conciertos que realizó por los EE.UU junto a la Orquesta Nacional de España, bajo la dirección del Maestro Frühbeck de Burgos, Leonel Morales mostró sus dotes excepcionales en Los Ángeles, New Jersey, DalIas, Houston, Washington (Kennedy Concert Hall), ...Extraordinaria Interpretación y Gran Poderío WASHINGTON POST.
...Seguro que estamos ante un caso de gran virtuosismo, confianza, eficiencia, pero, de gran naturalidad y sin grandes ademanes CLASSICAL MUSIC REVIEW.
Nacido en Cuba y nacionalizado español en 1991, el repertorio de Leonel Morales es tan amplio y exigente como variado y minucioso y abarca muchas de las obras capitales escritas para piano. Es, también, un reconocido intérprete de la música española, tal y como refleja la continua inclusión en sus programas de partituras de los más grandes compositores españoles, algunas de las cuales ha llevado al disco como, por ejemplo, “Concierto Breve”, de Xavier Montsalvatge, junto a la Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid: bajo la dirección del Maestro Antoni Ros Marbá (Premio Ritmo, al mejor CD del año 1994), doble álbum con la “Obra completa para piano”, de Antón García Abril, o su versión de los dos conciertos para piano y orquesta del mismo autor, grabados con la Orquesta de la RTVE, bajo la batuta del Maestro Enrique García Asensio; “Álbum Regio”, de Vicente Díaz de Comas, dedicado a la Reina Isabel II de España, etc.
Su capacidad expresiva y su virtuosismo se han puesto de manifiesto en sus frecuentes actuaciones con la Orquesta Nacional de España, Orquesta de la RTVE, Real Filarmonía de Galicia, Orquesta Sinfónica de Bilbao, Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga, Orquesta Sinfónica de Tenerife, Orquesta Sinfónica de Hamburgo, Orquesta Sinfónica Portuguesa, Orquesta Frankfurt-Oder, Orquesta Nacional de la RAI de Turín, Virtuosos de La Filarmónica de Berlín….. en las que ha dejado constancia de su capacidad como concertista bajo la batuta de todos los grandes directores españoles y de algunos extranjeros tan reconocidos como Michael Jurowski, George Pehlivanian, Alexander Rahbari, Marc Tardue, Jacques Mercier, Adrian Leaper, Enrique Bátiz....
Leonel Morales es ya un destacado pedagogo, reclamado habitualmente para formar parte de importantes jurados inter-nacionales: Chopin (Roma), “Cittá de Marsalla”, Fundación Gue-rrero, Oporto, Viotti, A.M.A. Calabria, o en el Concurso Scriabin y Cantú de Italia del que fue Presidente del Jurado. Algunos de sus alumnos han obtenido primeros premios en importantes concursos internacionales. Es catedrático del Conservatorio Superior de Música de Castellón y Presidente del Jurado en el Concurso Internacional de Piano “Compositores de España”.
LEONEL MORALES
The perfect combination of extraordinary gifts, technique, talent and inspiration have made possible that Leonel Morales became one of the most brilliant and successful pianist of his generation.
...He shows the beauty of sound with an assured technique and great dynamics that never pass the limits...
a superb artist... LA LIBRE BELGIQUE.
...He has a brilliant technique, a fine sense of harmony and a strong temperament SALZBURGER NACHRICHTEN.
…Brave pianist; great and accurate technique HAMBURGER ABENDBLATTHANFEFTTAD.
Concerning his tours through the USA with the Orquesta Nacional de España conducted by Frühbeck de Burgos, the critics said: ...Morales played exceedingly well and with considerable power. … WASHINGTON POST Surely this is a case of great virtuosity and efficiency but with great ease... CLASSICAL MUSIC REVIEW.
Born in Cuba, nowadays Leonel Morales is a naturalized Spanish citizen and lives in Spain since 1991. His work covers the entire piano repertoire. As a recognized performer of Spanish music he usually includes scores by the greatest Spanish composers on his performances. Many of his concerts had been recorded, as the awarded “Concierto Breve” by Xavier Montsalvatge with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid and Antoni Ros Marbá, the two concerts for piano and orchestra by Antón García Abril recorded with the Orquesta de Radio Televisión Española with Enrique García Asensio or the complete work for piano of the same author.
He is usually invited to perform with important orchestras like the Orquesta Nacional de España, Orquesta de Radio Televisión Española, Real Orquesta Filarmónica de Galicia, Orquesta Sinfónica de Bilbao, Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga, Orquesta Sinfónica de Tenerife, Symphony Orchestra of Hamburgo, Portuguese Symphony Orchestra, Frankfurt-Oder Orchestra, National Orchestra of Turin. Besides playing with the greatest Spanish conductors, he has performed with Michail Jurowski, George Pehlivanian, Alexander Rahbari, Marc Tardue, Jacques Mercier , Adrian Leaper or Enrique Bátiz...
Leonel Morales is often invited to take part as a member of the jury in many international piano competitions like: Chopin (Roma), Cittá de Marsalla, AMA Calabria, Principal de Andorra, Fundación Guerrero, Ciudad de Oporto, Víotti, Calabria... He is president of the jury in the International Piano Competition “Spanish Composers” (CIPCE) that takes place annually in Las Rozas (Madrid). Piano professor at the Conservatorio Superior de Castellón, he is also an outstanding pedagogue: some of his pupils have won national and international competitions. Manager of the Piano Festival in Granada from 1998.
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ENRIQUE BATIZ
At the age of 62, Enrique Bátiz is one of the most famous orchestra conductors in Latin America and no doubt he is a gifted artist who has won international popularity and fame and whose interpretations produce the deepest and most profound emotion.
He was born in Mexico City on May 4, l942. In l950 he studied piano with Francisco Agea and in l960 he continued his studies with Gyorgy Sandor. That same year he went to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. In l962 he studied piano with Adele Marcus in New York at the famous Juilliard School of Music, where he also studied conducting and received a diploma in l965. In l964 he made several national tours as a pianist. In l965 he was a semifinalist in the “Marguerite Long” International Piano Contest in Paris, France. From l967 to l970 he specialized in piano with Zbigniew Drzewiecki in Poland. He also had private lessons in orchestral conducting with Stanislaw Wislocki. In 1970 he was finalist in “F. Busoni” Piano Competition in Italy.
He began a tour of concerts in Poland in l967 with the Lodz and Szczecin Philharmonics, and presented recitals in Warsaw and Brussels in l969 with flattering reviews regarding his temperament and virtuosity. In l968 he participated in the “Queen Elizabeth” International Piano Contest in Brussels. Upon returning to Mexico in l969 Maestro Batiz performed innumerable concerts in the province. His debut as a conductor was in the “Palacio de Bellas Artes” in l969 with the Xalapa Orchestra. Later in l970 he made a series of piano recordings for the Polish and Salzburg Broadcast Companies. He also participated in the famous “Frederic Chopin” International Piano Contest of Warsaw. In April of l971 he was named Director Conductor Founder of the Symphonic Orchestra of the State of Mexico.
Maestro Bátiz was the conductor of the Symphonic Orchestra of the State of Mexico for 12 years (l971-1983), then of the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra for 7 years (l983-l989) and resumed directorship of the Symphonic Orchestra of the State of Mexico from l990 to the present. Since l984, he was named “guest conductor” of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and, as an invited guest conductor, he has lead more than 500 symphony orchestras around the world.
His work is represented with a collection of 145 recordings of which 4l are with the Royal Philharmonic, 9 with the London Symphony, 3 with the Philharmonia, 12 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, 2 with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, 19 with the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra 58 with the Symphonic Orchestra of the State of Mexico and 1 with the Toscana Orchestra in Florence, Italy, for the British record companies EMI Records International, Academy of Sound and Vision, Musical Heritage (USA), NAXOS, IMG International Management Group, Pickwick, RPO Records and Arts (German company).
The repertory of Enrique Batiz as a conductor ranges from classical to contemporary works. He has been described as an artist who conducts with enthusiasm, expressing a deep understanding, unusual even among the finest conductors.
Throughout his career, he has received important distinctions and awards: La primera Presea Bienal in Art from the State of Mexico Confederation of Professionals: “The International Gold Mercury” award of Rome, given for the first time to a Latin American artist; The Jose Marti and the Tlatelolco’s Eagle Medal. In 1984 he won First Prize at the British Music Trades Association for his interpretation of French Music with the Symphonic Orchestra of the State of Mexico (Debussy “Prelude of the afternoon of a Faun”); the 1986 “Rio Branco” medal, an official grade given by the Brazilian government for the worldwide digital recording of the nine “Bachianas Brasileiras” by Heitor Villa-Lobos; in four occasions (1971, 1981, 1983, and 1996) the annual prize as the most distinguished artist of the year from the Mexican Union of Teatrical and Musical broadcasters; his recording of the 3rd Symphony of Saint-Saens made in 1984 which was considered by the magazines “Gramophone” and the “Pengüin Stereo Records Guide” as the best recorded version of this piece. In 1986 The London Sunday Times considered his recording of Petrushka by Stravinsky as the recording of the year. In 1991 he received the Mexican “Mozart” medal given by the Domecq Cultural Institute in December of 1992, the London CD review magazine designated the recordinghe made with the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of the “Symphonic Dances” and “The Isle of Death” by Rachmaninoff as one of the best recordings made in 1992. In March of 1995, he won the “Estado de Mexico” Prize, in 1994 in the area of arts “Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz”, for his contribution to the musical culture of the State of Mexico and recognition he has achieved in musical world. This is recognized throughout the country and the whole world, therefore, he has been declared “Mexiquense Destacado.”
Enrique Bátiz has recorded the complete nine symphonies by Beethoven, the nine Bachianas Brasileiras by Villa-Lobos, the complete pieces for orchestra by Joaquin Rodrigo, Manuel M. Ponce, and G. Bizet, and eight volumes of Mexican music that have been published with great worldwide acclaim. In 1997 Enrique Batiz made a complete recording of three symphonic cycles with the Symphonic Orchestra of the State of Mexico; the six symphonies by Piotr Illich Tchaikovsky (twelve sessions in six days in February 1997), and the four symphonies by Johannes Brahms (in only four days), precisely in the centenary of his death and in September of 1998, the four symphonies by R. Schumann, short pieces by P:I: Tchaikovsky: Capricho Italiano, Francesca da Rimini, Polonaise and Waltz of Eugene Onegin, Marche Slave, Mazzepa Overture and Valse Melancholique from Suite No. 3, as well as three short pieces by Joaquin Rodrigo: Miedo, Canconeta, and Two Berceuses in six days of recording sessions.
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