La Noche de los Mayas

La Noche de los Mayas or Night of the Mayans was originally composed for the film directed by Chano Urueta (1939): a story of love and blood, culture shock, murder and sacrifice. Nicknamed the Mexican Stravinsky, Silvestre Revueltas shares with the composer of The Rite of Spring a wild and ritualistic energy that he draws from Mayan folklore. He infuses this iconic work with a vibrant, percussive and violent music that reaches trance-like proportions.

To accompany Revueltas, a group of composers who also enjoyed blurring the boundaries between so-called learned music and traditional influences. An example is his compatriot Arturo Marquez, who blends elements of Mexican and Cuban folklore into his compositions. Gershwin's Cuban overture, composed during a stay in Havana, is inspired by Caribbean rhythms. As for Astor Piazzolla, the Argentinian composer occupies a special place in the pantheon of the 20th century, at the crossroads between tango and contemporary music: the concert is also an opportunity to celebrate this immense musician whose centenary we are celebrating in 2021.