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October is Hispanic Heritage Month, and the Ontario Pops Orchestra<\/a> (OPO) is preparing to celebrate it in style by opening its 2022-2023 concert season with a Hispanic-Latin American Heritage Month Gala Concert at Meridian Arts Centre.<\/p>\n One of the most diverse orchestras in the industry, the wide variety of cultures and identities that form part of our community here in Ontario are represented well among OPO\u2019s ranks. This commitment to diversity is reflected, among many other ways, in the appointment of a female principal concertmaster. It should come as no surprise, then, that there\u2019s room for a sample of Toronto\u2019s vibrant Latin community in the orchestra.<\/p>\n \u201cAbout six or seven of our players are of Latin American descent,\u201d says Carlos Bastidas, OPO\u2019s Founder, Artistic Director, and Conductor. \u201cOur principal trumpet player, Fernando Ayala, is from Peru, and one of our viola players is from Colombia.\u201d<\/p>\n Maestro Bastidas himself was born in Colombia.<\/p>\n At its core, this concert is a celebration of shared heritage. The lineup gathers some of Canada\u2019s top Latin performers.<\/p>\n \u201cI had the idea of inviting them all to showcase our rich culture of music and dance on a major stage here in Toronto,\u201d says maestro Bastidas.<\/p>\n For maestro Bastidas, one of the most exciting opportunities this show presents is the chance to interpret pieces that are not often played on a Canadian stage, such as Mexican composer Jos\u00e9 Pablo Moncayo\u2019s Huapango. He is also looking forward to the orchestra\u2019s interpretation of Concerto de Aranjuez for guitar by Spanish composer Joaqu\u00edn Rodrigo accompanied by Chilean-Canadian guitarist Karla Garcia.<\/p>\n Attendees can expect to enjoy some well-loved classics as well, such as the iconic Carmen overture from Bizet\u2019s opera, performed by the Esmeralda Enriquez Spanish Dance Company. Maestro Bastidas has also commissioned an arrangement of the eternal classic Besame Mucho, in which the orchestra will accompany Cuban diva Marta Elena.<\/p>\n There will also be performances by The Mexicans Folk Ballet, and professional tango duo Roxane and Fabian.<\/p>\n As for what\u2019s next, there are already two shows planned for the spring of 2023; a tribute to Star Wars and other popular film scores, and another with a focus on Broadway. These will mix the contemporary and the classic in the way OPO is so well known for.<\/p>\n In the long term, maestro Bastidas seeks to achieve his goal of making classical music accessible to all audiences.<\/p>\n \u201cMy vision is for the Ontario Pops Orchestra to perform free concerts in an outdoor venue somewhere in Toronto,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n With a vibrant beginning, the Ontario Pops Orchestra is poised to deliver a season where there will be something to delight all audiences.<\/p>\n\n
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