Guayaquil Symphony Orchestra hopes to sustain last year’s successful management, despite the reduction of its musicians; they want a contribution from the state

The Guayaquil Symphony Orchestra designed a different approach last year: he sought to “link” more with the community by taking the orchestra to perform in hospitals and nursing homes, in addition to diversifying the concert repertoire with proposals such as the concert aniphonic 2, the one of Symphonic rock, and the one of Halloween, event that this year propelled the Ecuadorian horror and horror genre. These events were very popular and successful for “giving a space” to the urban tribes of Guayaquil, according to the executive director of the orchestra, Ana Tamayo de Mora.

This Friday, January 13, the Orchestra will offer the first concert of the season, which will consist of the Ecuadorian triptych by Ines Jijonorchestrated by Luis Humberto Salgado. They will also play works by composers Edward Elgar and Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Tiko Tiko and the Guayaquil Symphony Orchestra together in a free concert

To Ivan Fabre, Concertmaster of the Orchestra since 2007, the Orchestra has had its musical peaks, even reaching 90 musicians in its orchestral plant. “Unfortunately the number of musicians has decreased. We hope that with a contribution from the State that can improve… this limitation does not allow us to interpret a wide repertoire “says Fabre.

Despite the reduction of instrumentalists, Tamayo points out that in a survey of satisfaction with the work carried out by the Orchestra addressed to the audience, many of those who responded indicated that they had never been to an orchestra concert before the anime concert, for example. “Comments like these have allowed us to gauge the direction of the orchestra’s work,” Tamayo maintains.

“We can bring another type of public closer to the orchestra… that is the most important thing, that the orchestra is present in the city, that they know that they have this cultural contingent that can embrace various groups”, indicates Fabre.

The most attended concerts in 2022 were anime, which welcomed approximately 7,000 people, in addition to the concert Symphonic rock and the Christmas concert in Samanes Park. The latter received approximately 2,000 people.

According to data from the organization, in 2021 a total of 23,100 people attended the entity’s events, including face-to-face and virtual attendees, since in 2021 there were still capacity restrictions; Meanwhile in 2022, 54,325 people attended the concerts organized by the symphony.

“The Symphony Orchestra, for the first time in a long time, has a large influx of public”emphasizes Tamayo. “The number of people has increased and, above all, it has diversified. Through the communication part, the orchestra has positioned itself in the imagination of the people of Guayaquil”.

Tamayo, however, He stresses that the lack of budget prevents the realization of his proposal to turn the orchestra into a regional body and take it outside of Guayaquil. He says that last year it was not possible to mobilize the entire orchestra, but that smaller-scale chamber concerts were held in places like Playas, Montañita, Daule and Durán.

Despite the impediment of transporting the orchestra out of the city, the current direction of the orchestra has managed to take concerts to more sectors within Guayaquil. Fabre describes this experience as “enriching” for the musicians, since, he indicates, they can have contact with “another group of people” who usually do not attend concerts.

Guayaquil percussionist who suffers from cancer initiates legal battle for his reinstatement to the Guayaquil Symphony Orchestra

Among the objectives of the “program for cultural rights and creation of new audiences” designed by the orchestra the intention is to foster the generation of new audiences, children and young people, and to “propitiate” the conditions to increase the participation of the population in artistic activities.

For this, the orchestra hopes to continue in 2023 with programs such as ‘boys symphony’, which consists of full orchestra and chamber concerts in classrooms and school auditoriums, in addition to its program of concerts in centers for the elderly, health, rehabilitation of adolescent offenders, and social rehabilitation.

Details of tonight’s concert

The Guayaquil Symphony Orchestra presents tonight the national work Ecuadorian triptych. This concert will be directed by the master Dante Santiago Anzolini, dG.S.O. Artistic Director.

The activity will be this Friday, January 13 at 7:00 p.m. in it Eloy Alfaro Civic Center Theater. The tickets is free. (YO)