Alondra de la Parra Conducts the Paax GNP Festival at Hotel Xcaret Arte

• August 10, 2022
• Grupo Xcaret, Hotel Xcaret Arte

Learn more about this outstanding conductor and her impact on the contemporary world music scene 

At the beginning of July, the Paax GNP Festival transformed Hotel Xcaret Arte’s spaces into sumptuous auditoriums for a long-awaited live performance of a project with an online conception: La Orquesta Imposible by Alondra de la Parra. 

As an orchestra conductor, Alondra de la Parra has achieved notable international renown and an exceptional professional career that has led her to work with the best orchestras in the world, as well as to form her own ensembles for altruistic purposes, standing out for her human quality and empathy that never ceases to provide opportunities to new emerging talents. From promoting new talent to raising funds for those impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, Alondra de la Parra shines brightest when she praises the virtues of others. Read on to learn more about this important orchestral music professional and the social relevance of the Paax GNP Festival. 

From Mexico to the world 

After completing her studies in Music Composition at the Center for Research and Musical Studies (CIEM) in Mexico, she obtained a scholarship to pursue a degree in Piano at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, and then a master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting, graduating with honors on both occasions. 

Determined to become an ambassador of Mexico’s musical legacy, in 2004 she founded La Orquesta Filarmónica de las Américas (the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas), together with 80 musicians from around the world, aiming to promote the works of Latin American authors, as well as other young composers and soloists, through an educational program for children from public schools in the Bronx. 

A year later, De la Parra would make her debut as a guest conductor with the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra, and later she would conduct the orchestras of Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Sonora, Puebla, Xalapa, State of Mexico, the Sinfónica de Minería (Minería Symphonic Orchestra) and the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional (National Symphonic Orchestra) at Palacio de Bellas Artes. 

After her success in Mexico, in 2013 she made her debut with the Paris Orchestra, to later conduct the Berlin Symphonic Orchestra; in 2017 she would lead the Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, the San Francisco Symphonic Orchestra, the Zurich Tonhalle Orchester and would be involved in the production of The Winter’s Tale, at the Royal Opera House in London, to later become music director of the Queensland Symphonic Orchestra, Australia. 

La Orquesta Imposible, core of the Paax GNP Festival, a project born after the pandemic 

“La Orquesta Imposible was born from the conviction that music has the power to unite us. Regardless of our origins, our nationalities or our differences, music creates a universal language of hope in these difficult times” 

True to her altruistic spirit, Alondra de la Parra brought together the best contemporary soloists and musicians from 14 different countries, to form La Orquesta Imposible, performing a curated selection of the best classical music songs, which began with Danzón No. 2 by Arturo Marquez. Initially, the issue of contingency forced the musicians to record their performances independently at home, overcoming the barriers of isolation and imposed social distance. 

The main objective of La Orquesta Imposible is to help women and children in Mexico who were affected by Covid-19, allocating all the income generated to promote the work of two foundations that work to alleviate the effects of the pandemic: Fondo Semillas and Save the Children Mexico. 

Paax GNP Festival: classical music in the Mexican Caribbean 

A combination of symphonic, chamber, ballet and even clown music covered the event with a unique execution of multidisciplinary art. This one-of-a-kind ensemble was introduced for the first time at a digital conference at Hotel Xcaret México back in 2020, and although the initial logistics for a digital concert with each musician playing at home while being broadcasted live presented some problems, the La Orquesta Imposible’ concerts during the Paax GNP Festival at Hotel Xcaret Arte delighted the audiences for three unforgettable days. 

This first edition of the festival also premiered the new symphony by Arturo Marquez, composed especially for La Orquesta Imposible. Held in the sumptuous Diego and Frida convention rooms, the concerts aligned with Hoteles Xcaret’s conviction to advocate and dignify Mexican art. In collaboration with the artist Gabriela Muñoz or Chula the Clown, Alondra de la Parra also presented The Silence of Sound, a show that combines symphonic music and a clown show. 

Social Harmony at the Paax GNP Festival 

Being faithful to her philanthropic principles, Alondra de la Parra promotes Armonía Social (Social Harmony), a collective orchestral music teaching and practice program for children and young people, through improvement workshops and sectioned rehearsals. The first generation of this program was introduced at the festival, earning a heartfelt recognition from the audience. As was the case with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, this project seeks to expand learning and taste for music through youth orchestras to improve the quality of life in vulnerable communities in the Yucatan Peninsula. 

If you were able to attend the first edition of the Paax GNP Festival, share your impressions with us in the comments section. https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cfhcn5QjlGQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link