Alberto Revilla

El sabado en la noche artista multidisciplinario, Alberto Revilla ofreció un concierto de guitarra y laúd, instrumento del mundo árabe.  El laúd se convertía importancia en la Edad Media.  El máximo nivel de desarrollo del laúd tuvo su apogeo durante el Renacimiento, pero alcanzó su máximo nivel de desarrollo en el Barroco.  Cayó en desuso, luego de los siglos XVII y XVIII cuando otros instrumentos cobraron popularidad, así fueron transcriptos los repertorios para laúd, a guitarra, por lo que muchas obras permanecieron mudas por dos siglos.  Son esas mismas obras las que Revilla interpretó esta tarde, en un concierto conformado por obras de Sylvius Leopold Weiss, y Francoise Dufaut.  También tocó la guitarra flamenca y una serie de sus propias composiciones de guitarra.  El concierto fue en San Pablo.  La Carrera artística de Alberto Revilla se ha desarrollado entre la Música de cámera y la Danza contemporánea.  Comenzó a estudiar guitarra a la edad de 10 años, a los 17 empieza a bailar con la Compañía Estatal de Danza Contemporánea mientras realiza sus primeros recitales de guitarra.  En 2010 comenzó a estudiar laúd barroco.

Saturday night multidisciplinary artist, Alberto Revilla gave a concert of guitar and lute, an instrument of the Arab world.  The lute became important in the Middle Ages.  The maximum level of development of the lute had its heyday during the Renaissance, but reached its maximum development in the Baroque period.  It fell into disuse after the 17th and 18th centuries when other instruments gained popularity and repertoires were transcribed for lute to guitar, so many works remained silent for two centuries.  These are the pieces that Revilla played this evening, in a concert of works composed by Sylvius Leopold Weiss, and Francoise Dufaut.   He also played flamenco guitar and a suite of his own guitar compositions.  The concert was in San Pablo.  The artistic career of Alberto Revilla has developed between chamber music and contemporary dance.  He began studying guitar at age 10, at 17 he started dancing with State Contemporary Dance Company while performing his first guitar recitals.  In 2010 he began studying baroque lute.

Video de Alberto Revilla toca laúd

Las grabaciones no son completas. Uno empecé tarde, en la otra batería murió antes del final, pero proporcionan muestras de Alberto tocando guitarra y Laúd Barroco.

The recordings are not complete.  One I started late, in the other my battery died, but they do provide samples of Alberto playing both Baroque lute and guitar.

Video of Alberto Revilla playing guitar

Teatro Macedonio Alcalá

The Teatro Macedonio Alcalá is named in honor of Macedonio Alcalá Prieto, a Mexican violinist, pianist and songwriter born in the City of Oaxaca in 1831. He is remembered today for his waltz, "Dios nunca muere" (God Never Dies), which is considered the anthem of Oaxaca. Construction of the theater began in 1903, was completed in August 1909, and opened on September 5th of that year. It originally operated as a theater and casino, called Luis Mier y Teran. Over the last 100 years the teatro was the boxing and wrestling area, casino, Government inauguration hall as well as movie theatre. The teatro can accommodate a total of 800. In 1999 an earthquake damaged the theatre; restoration began in 2000. Today the teatro hosts the symphony and other music, dance programs, operas, and other civic functions.

The main entrance is located on the corner of Independencia and Armenta y Lopez and divides two symmetrical facades. Inside, the foyer is done in the French character, much in the style of Louis XV. On the ceiling is an allegory of the Temple of Art where the “La Fama” and the “El Premio” are showcased. A white marble staircase leads to the main hall done in imperial style shaped in a horseshoe with six levels: the orchestra, orchestra seating, first balcony, second balcony, gallery and paradise. Around the ceiling starting at the stage there is a bust of General Luis Mier y Teran for whom the teatro was first named. From this point circulating outward are nine medallions containing portraits of famous artists and writers: Victor Hugo, Calderon de la Barca, G. Verdi, Juan Ruiz de Alarcón, Shakespeare, Racine, Wagner, Beethoven and Moliere.

On the ceiling itself are the nine muses. The curtain has pictorial composition of the Parthenon and Mount Parnassus. In the background are the clouds and Apollo’s carriage drawn by four horses.

You can see more photos by clicking here.

Jazz in a Tropical Garden

Jane Robinson of Casa Colonial has put on Jazz in a Tropical Garden with Miguel Sampiero (right) and friends for roughly six years on the first Sunday of the month from 4 to 6 PM. The setting is lovely. They have a bar and comfy chairs on the lawn. The weather cooperates. The music is lovely and no telling who might show up to sit in. For more info on Casa Colonial check their website. For more pictures check my picasa web album.

Flamenco Guitar

For Valentine’s Day a very fine flamenco guitarist David Jenkins played during dinner at the restaurant Los Danzantes. David lives on the coast of Oaxaca in Puerto Angel and plays in the city of Oaxaca frequently. Sorry but this blog doesn’t have a soundtrack, yet. This started out to be sort of a Valentine Card but Los Danzantes is fairly dark at night not conducive to photography. So to cover Señor Jenkins we go to plan B. Last year David did a concert with a singer, Kat, at the Museo del los Pintores Oaxaquenos. That night the concert was special so to celebrate a few friends headed over to Mason Olivo, a Spanish restaurant a few blocks away. Most everything in Oaxaca is just a few blocks away, or a few more. After much wine and an impromptu second concert, which made everyone at Mason Olivo’s happy, Señor Olivo pulled the plug on the party at around 2 AM. All in all it was an evening with more light and more photo opportunities. After the big splash of color in the Ocotlán post you can see that I’m trying the opposite this time. I hope you enjoy the photos. There are a few more here. If you live in Oaxaca and want to get in touch with David Jenkins, he has a website. In fact if you go there you can have a soundtrack from him while you go through the photos. I hope all of you had a happy Valentine’s Day.