Mexico City Philharmonic Concert-June 6

Councilmember LaBonge presents a loaf of his signature pumpkin bread to Mauricio Camps, Coordinator of International Affairs for the Office of the Mayor of Mexico City.

Councilmember Tom LaBonge announced the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra’s debut performance at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The concert was co-organized by the Los Angeles-Mexico City Sister City Committee, whose member Steven Loza composed the featured piece of music.

The concert, on Friday, June 6 at 8 p.m., will feature a repertoire of master composers Carlos Chávez, Arturo Márquez, José Pablo Moncayo and Silvestre Revueltas. Led by Maestro Enrique Diemecke, the philharmonic will also premiere UCLA Professor Loza’s América Tropical—a piece interpreted by Los Angeles Opera mezzo-soprano Suzanna Guzmán and accompanied by a narrative and multimedia imagery created by UCLA Professors Jose Luis Valenzuela and Judy Baca. The presentation will feature a Mariachi concerto by Los Camperos de Nati Cano and a narration for Amèrica Tropical by actor Edward James Olmos.

América Tropical is inspired by the educational and artistic work of muralist David Alfaro Siquieros in Los Angeles during the 1930s. The press conference was held on Thursday, May 29th on the steps of the Disney Concert Hall, 111 S Grand Ave.

“This concert represents the best of what the Sister Cities program offers – relationships between people advancing the cultural achievements of their cities," said Added Councilmember LaBonge, President of Sister Cities of Los Angeles. "This will be a great event for all Angelenos.”

The Sister Cities Program was created in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to strengthen partnerships among U.S. and international cities. The premise was that personal relationships fostered through Sister City affiliations would increase trade, cultural exchange and mutual understanding and lessen the chance of international conflict. Los Angeles began its Sister Cities program in 1959 with Nagoya, Japan, and now includes 25 Sister Cities on six continents.