The Orquesta Típica de la Ciudad de México (OTCM), declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Mexican capital in 2011, will celebrate its 140th anniversary with a concert in the Main Hall of the Palacio de Bellas Artes; but it will do so in the midst of shortages, without its own concert hall, with worn-out instruments and the lack of a permanent luthier.
This is what Alberto Torres Xolocotzi, artistic director of the group considered the oldest in Latin America, told Excelsior. “The orchestra needs a decent venue, its own venue, precisely to develop and perfect the artistic part. There is also the lack of instrument renewal and operational and technical issues.”
And he adds: “There are many needs. Although I know it is complicated; but, to be a 140-year-old orchestra, I think it is necessary to do it justice, project visibility, investment, budgets… everything that an orchestra requires.”
Does La Típica keep the Faro Cosmos as its headquarters? Torres Xolocotzi, who has been directing the group for 15 months, is asked. “Yes, we have been at the Faro Cosmos for six or seven years; but there are situations, such as it not being an adequate place for the orchestra, since many disciplines converge, including musical, theatre and dance groups. So, suddenly, it is difficult to have a specific (work) schedule.
In addition, there is often the sound of other (events) and the orchestra needs its own space where we can work from silence; and, thus, have more study rooms for the musicians, an adequate storage room for the instruments and a specific area for the collection that we have at the Faro Cosmos and in the Historical Archive of CDMX,” he points out.
Torres Xolocotzi acknowledges that there has already been an approach by the current authorities of the capital, to solve some deficiencies; and, to do so, they have proposed moving to the Teatro del Pueblo, at República de Venezuela 72, in the Historical Center.
But the musicians have observed that the space would require adjustments. “There would have to be many adjustments, precisely for everything I mentioned: having a warehouse, rehearsal rooms and adjusting the stage, because the group and its choir do not fit; but I appreciate the intention to look for a decent space,” the musician emphasizes.
What is missing in terms of instruments? he is asked. “Right now some instruments are being repaired, but there are already some that need to be retired, and we need more. For example, (acquiring) a set of current timpani, bass sixths, small bandolones, having more psalteries and renewing the percussion section. Also, in the case of woodwinds, the repairs are being done little by little; but, finally, they arrive after six years (of waiting),” he explains.
Did you mention that you need a luthier? he is asked. “It is necessary to have a permanent luthier to give preventive and not corrective maintenance to the instruments,” he adds.
He also talks about the historical archive of La Típica, which would need to be integrated and digitalized, since the collection kept in the Historical Archive of Mexico City houses works from the Porfiriato, written or adapted by Félix Santana and other unknown composers.
How many documents does the Historical Archive keep?, he is asked. “More or less, there are around 25 to 30 boxes. Some directors have already made a report with 100 works, although I believe that we keep a little more than a thousand, which are part of the history of La Típica, whose repertoire is not fully known.”
Finally, the artistic director details that La Típica will hold its commemorative concert for its 140th anniversary in the Main Hall of the Palace of Fine Arts with the concert Fiesta mexicana, on Sunday, November 24, at 5:00 p.m.; which will include works such as Los melancólicos cantos de Juan Nepomuceno, by Eduardo Angulo, based on the story El llano en llamas, by Juan Rulfo; Sinaloa, by Pablo Marín, and the Regional Suite, arranged by Félix Santana.
As well as the pieces Recuerdos de Arcaraz, by Luis Arcaraz; Mosaico veracruzano, arranged and orchestrated by Zeferino Nandayapa, which includes Tilingo lingo, Veracruz, El balajú and La bamba, among others.
The Typical Orchestra of Mexico City, made up of 85 musicians, including choir and orchestra, offered its first concert in August 1884 in the auditorium of the old Conservatory, which was located where the Palace of Medicine is today.
Source: excelsior
