Tucson Symphony Orchestra is getting an early start to its 2024-25 season this weekend when it once again headlines the annual Mexican Independence Day Concert at Linda Ronstadt Music Hall.
Itβs the fourth year that the TSO has taken centerstage in the concert, presented by the Consulate of Mexico in Tucson, and the 11th year the consulate has hosted the event.
Tickets are free, but hard to come by. You can email the consulate at contucmx@sre.gob.mx or call 520-882-5595.
TSO Music Director JosΓ© Luis Gomez will be at the podium to conduct a program that includes works by Mexican composers. It includes Genaro Codiaβs βZacatecasβ March, Sol Silviniaβs βMexico,β JosΓ© Pablo Moncayoβs βHuapango,β AgustΓn Laraβs βArrΓ‘ncame la Vida,β Juventino Rosasβs βSobre las Olas,β Arturo MΓ‘rquezβs DanzΓ³n No. 2 βVenezuelan PopurrΓβ and Jaime NunΓ³βs βHimno Nacional Mexicano,β as well as selections from French composer Bizetβs βCarmen.β
Mezzo-soprano Diana Peralta is the featured vocalist, and Mariachi AztlΓ‘n de Pueblo High School also will perform.
The concert begins at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, at Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. The Consulate will host a free Mexican fiesta beginning at 4 p.m. at Music Hall.
Sundayβs concert is the first of three free events the TSO will host in the next week as it launches its βTranscend Your Sensesβ brand campaign to emphasize βthe transformative power of orchestral music.β
ββTranscend Your Sensesβ is more than just a tagline; itβs an invitation to explore the world in deeper, more meaningful ways,β Paul Meecham, the TSOβs president and CEO, said in a written statement. βItβs a celebration of the rich cultural tapestry of Tucson and the boundless possibilities that our music and the arts in our community can provide.β
The orchestra quietly launched the brand in late August when it unveiled βMomento CΓ³smicoβ at the Mercado San Agustin Annex. The interactive audio installation, designed by Tucson artist and architect Myles PeΓ±a in partnership with Brink Media, will remain open to the public through the end of January.
When visitors step into the aluminum structure, they will hear archival TSO recordings of music that is featured on the 2024-25 season, as well as lighting effects.
On Sept. 20, the orchestra will team up with the American Composer Orchestra to read new works by four Native composers. Led by Gomez, βEarShot CoLABoratoryβ gives insight into the collaborative process between composers and the orchestra as they brainstorm concepts and approaches to refine the new works. The idea is to develop the work of underrepresented composers and musical traditions in the orchestra world.
The composers include Laura Ortman from the White Mountain Apache tribe, Suzanne Kite (who goes by Kite) from the Oglala Lakota, and DinΓ© composers Michael Begay and Pulitzer Prize winner Raven Chacon. True Concord Voices & Orchestra performed Chaconβs Pulitzer Prize-winning βVoiceless Massβ last October to open its 20th anniversary season.
The TSO on Sept. 22 will perform a sampler of the works on their 2024-25 season at the second annual βSymphony Showcase.β The hour-long concert begins at 2 p.m. at Music Hall; the event is sold out, but orchestra officials anticipate releasing additional tickets. Call 520-882-8585 for details.
TSO opens its regular season with βMozart and Tchaikovskyβ featuring pianist David Fray performing Mozartβs Piano Concerto No. 21 on Sept. 27 at Music Hall. The concert will repeat on Sept. 29. For season details and tickets, visit tucsonsymphony.org/events.