For music lovers, there are nights that transcend simple listening and become emotional journeys. That of Saturday, March 29 at the Metropolitan Theater was one of them. Filarmed, under the direction of Manuel López-Gómez, offered a program in which emotion, contrast and reflection intertwined to leave an indelible mark on the city.
With the aim of strengthening the bond with the region's musicians and bringing the orchestra closer to new generations, the concert brought together a diverse audience, including children and young people from the Oro Molido Foundation of Fredonia's semi-special band. This initiative seeks to foster contact with the country's musical talents and provide them with the opportunity to discover the symphonic world firsthand.
A spoiler for the most curious
Before the concert, Spoiler Orchestra prepared the audience with a space designed to spark their curiosity and offer key insights into the works to be performed. On this occasion, the orchestra's associate conductor, Tami Daniel Rueda Blanco, joined Manuel López-Gómez to explore the legacy of two composers as contrasting as Maurice Ravel and Dmitri Shostakovich.
Through a dynamic conversation enriched by piano performances, they guided the audience on a journey that unraveled the hidden connections between the two composers. Despite their stylistic and cultural differences, both Ravel and Shostakovich managed to transform their music into a powerful testament to chaos, hope, and struggle.
Returning as a guest conductor after serving as the orchestra's associate conductor in 2024, Manuel López-Gómez expressed his enthusiasm for being reunited with a Philharmonic orchestra that is "open to listening" and has a "unique love of music." The chemistry between the conductor and the musicians was palpable, achieving expressive and nuanced performances that accurately captured the essence of each work.
Opposite roots
The program began with Midday on the plain by Antonio Estévez, a work that evokes the vastness and imposing character of the Colombian-Venezuelan landscape. The orchestral colors and textures transported the audience to the scorching heat of the region, immersing them in a soundscape as immense as it was evocative. This piece was followed by an unexpected fusion with the Prelude to Act I of Lohengrin by Richard Wagner, where the violins deployed multiple voices, creating an atmosphere that not only united two distinct composers, but also demonstrated the orchestra's ability to address deep emotional complexity.
“I decided to bring these two composers together, despite their different backgrounds, because their works complement each other in a surprising way. Both possess a profound spirituality and convey the sensation of suspended time, as if we were floating without gravity. Their harmonic approaches and tonalities blend perfectly; in fact, the last chord of Estévez's work blends ideally with the first of Lohengrin “of Wagner.” – Manuel López-Gómez, director
The magic continued with The Suite from My Mother Goose by Maurice Ravel, which transformed the stage into a fantasy world. From the delicate echoes of The Sleeping Beauty Pavane to the antics of Tom Thumb hopping among the wind instruments, Ravel invited the audience to immerse themselves in a fairy-tale universe.
The climax of the concert came with the Symphony No. 12 by Dmitri Shostakovich, specifically with the first movement, Revolutionary Petrograd, which captured the tension and fervor of the Russian Revolution. In a whirlwind of emotions, the orchestra recreated the atmosphere of struggle and turmoil, taking the audience beyond the merely musical, into a visceral experience that felt like a testament to resilience.
A concert with purpose
Among the attendees, in addition to the orchestra's regular audience, were the young people from the Oro Molido Foundation of Fredonia, who took advantage of this experience to broaden their musical horizons. Gabriel Jaime Peña Velásquez, coordinator of the Foundation's music program, emphasized the importance of students attending these concerts as part of their overall education. Beyond performing band marches, musical learning also involves developing an appreciation for the diversity of genres and styles.
For Anyeli Mesa Castañeda, a member of the band, the experience was transformative. “It’s a pleasure to experience music so closely, to see the musicians in action… Music has the power to convey deep feelings,” she commented, encouraging others to discover and enjoy music in all its forms.
The Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra's concert was, in López-Gómez's words, a true "catharsis," moving both musicians and audiences. More than joy, it left a profound emotional mark, reaffirming the transformative power of music to connect hearts and give voice to the most human emotions.
Don't miss the Fourth Season Concert "Raíces," conducted by Glass Marcano (Venezuela) and featuring soloist Juan David Osorio, who will perform his own work "Radiografía" for requinto guitar and string orchestra. Also enjoy Gabriela Ortiz's "Kauyumari" and F. Mendelssohn's "Scottish Symphony No. 3." Purchase here
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