The traditional Holy Thursday concert was celebrated with emotion and standing ovations, featuring a majestic performance by the Zacatecas State Symphonic Band, under the baton of guest conductor Luis Manuel Sánchez Rivas, as part of the 2025 Zacatecas Cultural Wellbeing Festival.
From the dramatic power of Carmina Burana, in a brilliant instrumental version, to the Mexican premiere of Rodrigo Lomán’s “Montuno,” the program was an unforgettable sonic journey.
Works such as “Tundra” by Nubia Jaime Donjuan; the extraordinary “Huapango” by José Pablo Moncayo; the powerful 1812 Overture by Ilich Tchaikovsky, accompanied by the ringing of the bells of the Cathedral Basilica and the cannons of the Brotherhood of San Juan Bautista; and, to conclude, the pasodoble “Cielo andaluz,” created a masterful evening.
As part of the 2025 Zacatecas Cultural Wellbeing Festival, the Zacatecas State Symphonic Band offered its traditional Holy Thursday concert, an event eagerly awaited by local and visiting audiences at the state’s premier cultural forum.
The carefully curated program took attendees on a musical journey that united the power of the classics with the vitality of new voices in Mexican composition.
The first part of the concert was dedicated to a suite from Carmina Burana, Carl Orff’s famous work originally written for orchestra, choir, and soloists. In this instrumental version, the arranger masterfully translated the vocal passages into the texture of the symphonic band, preserving the dramatic intensity and rhythmic color of the original score.
The suite, approximately 30 minutes long, brought together the most representative moments of the work, resulting in a performance that was both respectful of Orff’s spirit and bold in its sonic vision.
In the second part of the program, Mexican repertoire took center stage with strength and originality. “Tundra,” by Nubian composer Jaime Donjuan, resonated with a contemporary palette full of contrasts and evocative atmospheres, confirming why her work has been recognized nationally and internationally. The work offered an intense listening experience, in which the Symphonic Band showcased its expressive capacity.
An important moment in this concert was the national premiere of “Montuno,” by Veracruz composer Rodrigo Lomán. This piece, which combines rhythmic complexity with elements of Afro-Latin tradition, was enthusiastically received by the audience. The premiere reaffirmed the importance of promoting and disseminating the works of contemporary Mexican composers.
The concert closed with two essential pieces from the symphonic repertoire: José Pablo Moncayo’s “Huapango,” which drew a spontaneous ovation, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s imposing 1812 Overture, whose orchestral power and drama served as a prelude to the special note, in this concert, of Cielo Andaluz and “Marcha Zacatecas,” performed by soprano Sheila López.
Once again, the Zacatecas State Symphonic Band demonstrated its artistic excellence and commitment to a diverse and meaningful program. The Holy Thursday concert, in which Maestro Salvador García y Ortega was recognized for his 65 years of service within this musical institution, was not only a musical delight but also a reminder of the power of musical art.
Source: imagenzac
