Orquesta Filarmónica de México UNAM makes its UK debut

One of the finest orchestras in Mexico and the oldest symphonic ensemble in Mexico City, the Orquesta Filarmónica de México UNAM made its UK debut on 5 July 2015 at a concert at the Cambridge Corn Exchange which marks the start of a UK tour. Conducted by their Music Director, Jan Latham-Koenig, the orchestra will be performing a programme which mixes British and Mexican music. This reflects that the tour is part of 2015: the Year of the UK in Mexico and The Year of Mexico in the UK, a joint initiative of the British and Mexican governments designed to strengthen cultural and economic relations between the two countries.

The orchestra is joined for the tour by Tasmin Little (violin), Jorge Federico Osorio (piano) and Rodrigo Garibay (tenor saxophone), to perform two British works with violin solo, RVW's The Lark Ascending and Holst's Song of the Night, plus music by composers, Chávez, Marquez, De Falla, Gershwin, Piazzolla and Moncayo. Tasmin Little has worked with the orchestra before and said she is "thrilled to be performing with the Orquesta Filarmónica de México UNAM for their UK tour. I made my first visit to Mexico City this February and worked with the orchestra’s wonderful players and their marvellous maestro, Jan Latham-Koenig. Our concerts together were so enjoyable and the audiences could not have been more enthusiastic. I am sure that the orchestra will receive similar enthusiasm from UK audiences."

The orchestra was established in 1936 at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) in Mexico City, it became the first professional symphonic ensemble in Mexico to present an annual season of concerts. At nearly 80 years old, they are the oldest symphonic ensemble in Mexico City.

Launched on 5 July at the Cambridge Corn Exchange, the tour will continue to G Live in Guildford (7 July), The Anvil in Basingstoke (8 July) and the Cadogan Hall (9 July).