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American Celebration of Music in
Mexico
An exclusive concert series for performance ensembles
An Exclusive Concert Series
M
exico, inhabited by several advanced civilizations for nearly
three millennia, is today a blend of Olmec, Mayan, Aztec,
Spanish, French, Austrian, and more recently, German, Italian, and
American cultures. Each have influenced much of modern Mexico’s society, tradition, music and government.
official publicity, generally very successful concert arrangements,
and the ability to touch local cultures in a way that may not be
done through other affiliations. This equates to more meaningful
musical and emotional experiences for participating performance
ensembles.
Mexico has a long tradition of classical music, as far back as the
16th century, when it was a Spanish colony. Music of “New Spain”
, especially that of Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla and Hernando Franco, is increasingly recognized as a significant contribution to New
World culture.
Selected American groups are invited to share their talents with
appreciative audiences in glorious venues and spectacular settings
throughout Mexico. Venues in Mexico range from the great cathedrals to smaller parish churches, outdoor stages (in some of the
major plazas in cities), ruins, amphitheaters, concert halls, conservatory auditoriums and cultural centers.
The city of Puebla, one of the oldest colonial cities in the continent, was a significant center of music composition. In the 17th
century, the city had considerable wealth and for a time was presided over by Bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, who was an enthusiastic patron of music. Composers during this period included
Bernardo de Peralta Escudero and Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla, the
most famous composer of the 17th century in Mexico. In the
18th century, Italian opera found its way to Mexico when Ignacio
Jerusalem, an Italian-born composer, maestro di capilla at the cathedral in Mexico City from 1749 until his death in 1769. In the
19th century the waltzes of Juventino Rosas reached world recognition. In the 20th century, Carlos Chavez, is a composer of note
who wrote symphonies, ballets, and more.
The American Celebrations of Music is a special annual performance-tour program, co-sponsored by local governments, music
associations, community organizations, and tourist boards around
the globe. In many countries this has developed into a prestigious, recognized, year-long concert-series festival. Recognition
of this festival facilitates greater access to performance venues,
We look forward to working with you on customizing the perfect
itinerary for your ensemble!
Sample Itinerary
MEXICO CITY / PUEBLA / TAXCO /
ACAPULCO
DAY ONE: MEXICO CITY
Depart via scheduled air service, including full meal, beverage service
and in-flight entertainment
Arrive in Mexico City. Meet your MCI Tour Manager, who will assist
the group to awaiting chartered motorcoach for a transfer to the hotel
Enjoy a Welcome Dinner and overnight
DAY TWO: MEXICO CITY
Sightseeing today includes Chapultepec Park, topped by its Castle
Visit the impressive National Museum of Anthropology, with its extraordinary collection of
pre-Columbian art. Wonder at some masterpieces such as the famous
24-ton Aztec Calendar, or the sculpture of the gruesome goddess of
Earth, Coatlicue
Also visit the Zócalo, National Palace and Diego Rivera’s famous
murals. Continue to Alameda Park, past the white-marble Palace of
Fine Arts, the fancy Postal Palace, reminiscent of a classical Venetian
palazzo, and the unique House of Tiles, a significant city landmark
Concert in Mexico City as part of the American Celebration of Music
in Mexico
Dinner at a local restaurant
Return to the hotel for overnight
DAY THREE: MEXICO CITY
Morning drive to Teotihuacan, a city that flourished several centuries
prior to the arrival of the Aztecs; it was probably the largest of Mexico’s
ancient cities
Visit the awe-inspiring, pre-Aztec pyramids of the Sun and Moon, and
walk down the Road of the Dead to the Citadel, to wonder at the Temple of Quetzalcóatl
On the way back to town, stop at the Basilica of Guadalupe, the famous
shrine of the Mexicans’ most revered patron saint
Afternoon/evening concert in Mexico City as part of the American
Celebration of Music in Mexico
Dinner at a local restaurant
Return to the hotel for overnight
DAY FOUR: MEXICO CITY
Full-day excursion to Mexico City’s southern colonial suburbs of San
Angel, Coyoacan to visit the Frida Kahlo Museum, University City and
the floating gardens of Xochimilco
Concert in the Xochimilco area as part of the American Celebration of
Music in Mexico
Return to the hotel for overnight
DAY FIVE: MEXICO CITY / PUEBLA
Morning at leisure in Mexico City
Afternoon transfer through the Puebla valley
Enjoy a comprehensive tour that includes the historical forts of Guadalupe and Loreto, where Napoleon III’s Imperial French Army was
defeated by the poorly armed Mexican troops under General Zaragoza
Time permitting, visit the imposing and massive grey-stone Cathedral,
the high-baroque Rosary Chapel, and the unique Biblioteca Palafoxiana.
Evening concert in Puebla as part of the American Celebration of Music in Mexico
Dinner at a local restaurant
Return to the hotel for overnight
DAY SIX: TAXCO
Morning at leisure in Puebla
Afternoon transfer over a panoramic highway, through rural Mexico,
with its cornfields and sugar cane plantations, up the rugged Sierra
Madre Mountains, till reaching Taxco. Enjoy a sightseeing walk to the
beautiful baroque church of Santa Prisca, with its splendid Churrigueresque gilded altarpieces
Free time will be available to browse through the many tempting silver
shops and workshops
Evening concert in Taxco as part of the American Celebration of
Music in Mexico
Dinner and overnight at one of Taxco’s charming country-style hotels
DAY SEVEN: ACAPULCO
Depart after breakfast, once again across the mountains, soon reaching
the tierra caliente lowlands, and eventually the Pacific coast with Mexico’s most famous seaside resort, lively, exhilarating Acapulco
Afternoon at leisure, to enjoy the resort’s gold sand beaches, the mild
climate and the magnificent vistas of what’s often called world’s most
beautiful bay
This evening we will drive up to La Quebrada, to watch the breathtaking
spectacle of the daring clavadistas, diving into the ocean from over 120
ft. high
Concert in Acapulco as part of the American Celebration of Music
in Mexico
Dinner and overnight at a friendly hotel close to the beach
DAY EIGHT: ACAPULCO
Day at leisure in Acapulco. Just about everything that can be done on,
under or above the water is done in Acapulco. On the bay, water-skiing, wind surfing and parasailing are all popular activities. The smaller
beaches have boats of all kinds: sailboats, fishing boats, motorboats,
pedal boats and canoes
Evening Farewell Dinner and return to the hotel for overnight
DAY NINE: DEPART FOR HOME
Morning free time on the beach, and the opportunity for some last-minute shopping
Transfer to Mexico City’s International Airport for return flight
Arrive home in the evening
Music Celebrations International
1440 S. Priest Drive, Ste. 102 Tempe, AZ 85281-6952
Toll-free: 800.395.2036 | Fax 480.894.5137
www.musiccelebrations.com | [email protected]