State Symphony Orchestra of Mexico Coming to Harris Center, 3/16

For its Harris Center appearance under the baton of renowned Maestro Enrique Bátiz, the award-winning State Symphony Orchestra of Mexico - Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México, will perform Enrique Granados' "Three Spanish Dances," Johannes Brahms' "Symphony No. 1 in C Minor" and Joaquin Rodrigo's "Concerto de Aranjuez," featuring guitar soloist Alfonso Moreno, one of the greatest interpreters of classical guitar.

At the age of 60, Enrique Bátiz is one of the most famous orchestra conductors in Latin America and a gifted artist who has won international popularity and fame. Maestro Bátiz was the conductor of the State Symphony Orchestra of México for 12 years (1971-1983); he then conducted the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra for seven years (1983-1989). He resumed directorship of the State Symphony Orchestra of México from 1990 to the present. Since 1984, he was named guest conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and as an invited guest conductor, has led more than 500 symphony orchestras around the world.

The State Symphony Orchestra of Mexico - Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México will perform Monday, March 16, 2015 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are priced at $35-$45; Premium $55; Students with ID $25. Tickets are available online at www.harriscenter.net or from the Harris Center Ticket Office at 916-608-6888 from 10 am to 6 pm Monday through Saturday, and two hours before show time. Parking is included in the price of the ticket. Harris Center is located on the west side of Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom, CA, facing East Bidwell Street.

On August 27, 1971, at the initiative of Maestro Enrique Batiz and the State Government of Mexico, the Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México (OSEM) was founded with the aims of promoting music as a means of union and identification among Mexicans. Based in the city of Toluca, the orchestra was characterized from the outset by its efforts to bring its message to all corners of the Republic.

In over 40 years of existence, OSEM has appeared in concert with a large number of guest conductors and soloists from all over the world, including Leon Barzin, Kurt Woess, Jose Iturbi, Piero Gamba, and Joel Levi. Both the orchestra and its artistic director have repeatedly received the Mexican Union of Theatre and Music Award, for the promotion of musical activities in Mexico.

In 1975 the orchestra made its first tour of the United States, performing in major cities. Their first European debut in 2002 was at the prestigious Festival of Schleswig-Holseein in Germany. It was followed by six concerts in Spain, Poland, Germany and France. In 2005, OSEM traveled to Paris, France to present two concerts at the Salle Gaveau and Theatre Mogador accompanied by soloists of Filomena Moretti, Mark Zeltser and Koh Kameda. Later in 2005, seven concerts were held for the People's Republic of China in important cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Shenyang and Harbin.

January 2006 brought the OSEM to Spain, visiting Madrid, Albacete and Zaragoza, including the International Festival of Seville. In 2008 the OSEM performed its most extensive touring in the U.S. in a journey from coast to coast, travelling to forty-eight cities with great reception from audiences and critical success. In 2010 the OSEM received an invitation to represent the Spanish-American musical culture in the Festival of Music and Dance in Granada, Spain, celebrating two concerts at the Palacio de Carlos V, the Bicentennial of Independence and the Centennial of the Mexican Revolution. In 2012 they were invited for the second time to the People's Republic of China for seven concerts that spanned a year, resulting in similar success and the favorable reception of earlier international tours.

Highlights of the orchestra's discography include the overtures of Verdi and of Rossini, along with the music of Mexico and Spain, featuring outstanding composers Isaac Albéniz, Joaquín Rodrigo and the whole series of symphonies by Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms and Tchaikovsky.

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