38th Morelia Music Festival kicks off next week, highlighting artists from Asia

The historic city of Morelia, Michoacán, is gearing up to host the 38th edition of the “Miguel Bernal Jiménez” Music Festival, which will take place from Nov. 13 to 22. 

Featuring Asia as a guest region, the festival will feature representatives from China, Japan, India, Thailand, South Korea and Indonesia, in addition to the participation of artists and musical groups from 13 countries. 

“It’s a must-see show,” head of the event Verónica Bernal told news outlet Crónica in an interview. 

The festival will take place in different locations across the city, including cultural and religious landmarks like the Morelia Cultural Center, the Clavijero Cultural Center, the Roses Conservatory, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe and more.   

The opening concert will feature the National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ludwig Carrasco, with violinist Yesong Sophie Lee as soloist. The performance will take place on Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. at the Teatro Morelos, one of the event’s primary venues. 

The inaugural program includes music by Tan Dun, winner of an Academy Award and a Grammy for the soundtrack to the 2000 film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, in addition to the performance of El Chueco, a famous 20th-century ballet composed by the Mexican composer Miguel Bernal Jiménez, whose legacy gives this festival its name. 

@fonotecanacional 𝙀𝙡 𝙘𝙝𝙪𝙚𝙘𝙤 es un ballet que utiliza elementos populares y religiosos para contar la historia de un niño paralítico que le teme al mundo exterior y que, tras soñar que supera sus miedos, despierta para disfrutar las procesiones que desfilan frente a la puerta de su casa. El argumento es del bailarín y coreógrafo Guillermo Keys-Arenas, que encargó la música al compositor Miguel Bernal Jiménez, y la obra se estrenó en el Teatro de Bellas Artes en 1951. Sin embargo, con el tiempo la música se independizó de la puesta en escena y es considerada por algunos la mejor partitura del compositor. Bernal Jiménez falleció el 26 de julio de 1956 pero su legado sigue vivo a través de su música, que la Fonoteca Nacional difunde a través de Musiteca.mx. Encuentra la grabación competa en el link denuestra biografía. Fotografía: Caracterización de el Chueco. Guillermo Keys-Arenas, Heterofonía, núm. 114-115, enero-diciembre de 1996, p. 87. México, INBA, Cenidim #FonotecaNacional #musitecamx #ballet #guillermokeysarenas #miguelbernaljimenez #compositormexicano ♬ original sound – Fonoteca Nacional de México

Miguel Bernal Jiménez (1910–1956) was an organist, researcher and teacher, originally from Morelia. He was a prominent figure in 20th-century Mexican sacred music and a pioneer in the research of music from the era of New Spain. 

According to Festival Director Bernal, other events will also feature works by the composer.

Among the most anticipated performances is Carnaval Barroco by the French ensemble Le Poème Harmonique, which combines music, theater, dance and acrobatics. The show will be part of the celebrations marking 200 years of diplomatic relations between Mexico and France.

Additionally, violinist Lidia Baich and pianist Donka Angatscheva will commemorate the 125th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between Mexico and Austria.

Bernal said that nearly half of the activities will be free of charge, with a program that includes masterclasses, children’s performances and the traditional floral carpets of Patamban. Tickets can be purchased at a discount (through Nov. 6) here.