History

In 1915, thanks to the initiative of Maestro Jose Rolon, a group of musicians from Jalisco began to give chamber and symphonic concerts to the people in Guadalajara; this was the starting point of what would in the future be known as the Guadalajara Symphonic Orchestra.

Between 1915 and 1924, the Orchestra operated under a board of directors of the then Concerts Society; the Orchestra was funded entirely the private sector and a subsidy from the State Government, but the Orchestra’s support stopped in 1923. The musicians, however, continued with their work to prevent the Orchestra from disappearing and managed to have the then Governor Jose Guadalupe Zuno provide economical support; Don Pedro Gonzalez Peña’s dedication to the Orchestra until 1939 was remarkable.

In February 1942, during Guadalajara’s 400th foundation celebration, as Maestro Leslie Hodge was strolling about the city he heard some musicians interpret several classical pieces of music; he approached the musicians with the purpose of knowing who they were and encouraged them to form an orchestra. He was then invited as organizer and conductor. At that time, his commitments did not allow him but he promised that he would be back once World War II ended. So the Asociacion de Amigos de la Musica (Music Friends Association) requested the then Governor Marcelino Garcia Barragan that the orchestra remained in view of Maestro Hodge’s offering who was to become the first conductor of the Guadalajara Symphonic Orchestra. The sponsorship was maintained until 1950 when Conciertos Guadalajara, A.C. was formed taking control over the Orchestra, which was supported by subsidies from the state and city governments and the private sector.

In 1971, the Guadalajara Symphonic Orchestra became a body of the Department of Fine Arts of the State of Jalisco that has since managed its art and economical affairs. This is recognized as a ductile and versatile Orchestra because of the maestros that have conducted it. Guadalajara Symphonic Orchestra has had an average 60 presentations a year, among concerts, opera and ballet events, conducted by figures such as Leslie Hodge, Abel Eisemberg, Helmut Goldman, Eduardo Mata, Kenneth Klein, Hugo Jan Huss, Francisco Orozco, Manuel de Elias, Jose Guadalupe Flores, Guillermo Salvador, Luis Herrera de la Fuente, and, currently, by Maestro Hector Guzman.

Internationally renowned soloists have participated with the Orchestra, such as Paul Badura-Skoda, Claudio Arrau, Jörg Demus, Henryck Szeryng, Placido Domingo, Alfred Brendel, Bernard Flavigny, Jean Pierre Rampal, Carlos Prieto, Narciso Yepez, Gary Karr, among others.

In 1988, the Guadalajara Symphonic Orchestra changed its name to give rise to the Philharmonic Orchestra of Jalisco with the intention of extending its work of art all over the State.The organization has been formed based on strict auditions of aspiring music-stand musicians, which guarantees homogeneity of sound regarding the technical performance of its members. This has allowed us to sustain that the Philharmonic Orchestra of Jalisco is able to appropriately and gallantly perform any kind of repertoire, including the most ambitious works of the 20th and 21st centuries.

The Philharmonic Orchestra of Jalisco is to be interpreted as having stepped forward to consolidate our long orchestral tradition, a legitimate effort seeking to benefit the majorities.

The Orchestra, along with its current conductor Maestro Hector Guzman, maintains an updated first-class competitive level regarding its programs, a steady foundation for progress, to serve the utmost purpose of art.

The Conductors of the Jalisco Philharmonic