Mexican wave: Music director is fired just before concert

Mexican wave: Music director is fired just before concert

News

norman lebrecht

December 05, 2023

We hear that officials of the University of Guanajuato in Mexico terminated Roberto Beltrán Zavala’s employment as chief conductor 24 hours before a concert. No reason was given.

Players of the Orquesta Sinfonica de la Universidad de Guanajuato flew protest banners at the concert and read out a declaration condemning the conductor’s dismissal. The university stands by its decision.

Roberto Beltrán Zavala, a Mexican and Dutch citizen, lives in Rotterdam and has an international career with, among othera the Orchestra of the 18th Century, the Orchestre d’Auvergne and the Holland Sinfonia. He had led the Guanajato orchestra for eight years.

Comments

  • Stop Propaganda says:

    Wasn’t fired, his contract wasn’t renewed and they knew about it for 6 months. The guy’s a crybaby and good riddance.

    • Old Wolf says:

      Can you prove that? Were you there? We all know his dismissal was last minute. Why spreading fake news? Who pays you?

  • Fer says:

    He should have been fired a long time ago. the orchestra is overlooking the fact that he profited from all the guest soloist he invited whom coincidentally had the same representation agency he did. If that not is a clear cut case of conflict of interest or quid pro quo I don’t know what is. The orchestra went along with it for many years!

    • Novagerio says:

      Fer: Well, that’s precisely how things are everywhere. It’s the abhorrent monopolisation used by most chief-conductors and their agents.

  • Bill says:

    Mexican music director appointments are highly political in a lot of states, as in PRI and PAN party government politics. If an election of governor of a particular state results in a change of parties, the music director is often replaced with a music director of the same party.
    Most Mexican orchestras are state run, and politics often comes into play.

    • Inside says:

      100% true. However, Guanajuato has been under PAN rule, almost dictatorial (they control practically every municipality in the state), since 1991.

      In this case it was probably just internal politics.

      Pity, they had what was truly the leading festival in Latin America, if not all of America, with the Cervantino ( Karajan, Kleiber, Berlin and Vienna Phil, as well as many, many great musicians were regular guests). And now the Cervantino is a laughing stock.

  • Old Wolf says:

    Look a t the videos… In 30 years of an international, professional carrer I have NEVER seen such public support from both an orchestra and their audience. That’s what matters. He did great, like it or not.

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