Last night at the Teatro Principal I was sitting in front of a couple who have spent the last two years sailing but are taking a two-month break in Guanajuato. We were all there to listen to three of the symphony cellists, Michael Severence, Luiis Barajas Berejo and Fortunato Rojas play works by Haydn, Depraut,
and Beethoven along with the world premieres of pieces by Adalberto Tovar and Michael Severens in what turned out to be a listenable and highly satisfying concert.
The three earlier pieces were written for cellos with another instrument but the works by Tovar and Severens were written specifically for three cellos. The work by Beethoven was transcribed in the 19th century, with OSUG cellist Barajas doing the other transcriptions. We in the audience heard the result of all this effort.
For once, to me, a Beethoven piece (written early in his career) was less a highlight than the Haydn and Dupraut, a French composer I hadn't heard before. The Tovar work led me to want to hear more by this young Mexican composer and I think many of us are also anticipating what Severens will compose next.
On August 16 at 8:30, the full orchestra resumes its regular season with works by Stravinsky, Vidaurri and Bernstein.
