On December 21st, 2012, the Dresdner Sinfoniker welcomed the new Mayan age. A musical homage to an ancient culture.
The world was supposed to end on December 21st, 2012. Esoterics and astrologists had been predicting natural catastrophes of hitherto unknown proportions, backing up their claims with references to the ancient Mayan calendar. But the apocalypse was just one of many interpretations. For the Mayans, the end of the 400-year calendar cycle was a milestone moment that heralds the arrival of a new epoch.
The Codex Dresdensis, which is held in the Book Museum of the Saxon State and University Library, is one of the three surviving manuscripts of their calendar – and the only one open to the public – and has contributed enormously to our understanding of the Mayan calendar. This is the place where the orchestra linked up live with Mexico to play to the accompaniment of a voice from the Mayan nation. A celebration of the dawn of a new era – on a global yet touchingly intimate level.
The Dresdner Sinfoniker and the Mayan culture joined forces in the hall beneath the Library Treasury for a concert of contemporary Latin American music. At the stroke of midnight, there was a live link with Mexico, the reputed source of the Codex Dresdensis, where we heared a Mayan singer break into song, chanting verses dating back thousands of years. She bid adieu to the old calendar cycle. Tender yet haunting. Her vocals where accompanied by the sound of the orchestra in Dresden which joined her in welcoming a new Mayan era.
The objective analysis of a document of outstanding global historical significance – coupled with the poised performance of an indigenous artiste in a meeting of worlds with one of the most renowned orchestras for contemporary music – made this concert truly unique.
Silvestre Revuelta:
Sensemayá
Homenaje a Federico Garcia Lorca
Enrico Chapela:
Lo Nato Es Neta
Jens Legler, electric guitar
Jesús Lara, bass guitar
Luis Miguel Costero, drums
Enrico Chapela:
Albactún
World premiere with a live link to Mexico City
Sara Curruchich Cúmez, Mayan singer
Gonzalo Ceja and Horacio Franco, Mayan instruments
Conductor: José Areán
This project has been held in cooperation with the Saxon State and University Library Dresden and sponsored by the Cultural Foundation of Saxony along with the City of Dresden – Department for Culture and Heritage Protection.
With the kind support of Kronsegler, Lichtenauer, Neumann & Müller and Radeberger.
