"Alucinaciones" for Viola solo by Leonardo Coral (Mexican composer)

      Hit play before reading!

   Leonardo Coral is one of the most active Mexican composers. His works have been premiered and performed by important orchestras and artists in Mexico, United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. He has made over 23 recordings of his music from Chamber Music to Symphonic Works. He is currently a professor at the Autonomous University of Mexico, and at the "Ollin Yoliztli" School of Initiation to Music and Dance.

   Maestro Coral began to play the piano when he was a teenager, but it was until the age of 18 that he started his formal studies at the National School of Music of the UNAM, where he studied with Federico Ibarra, Mr. Coral obtained an honorable mention in his graduation. His first work was a piece for piano: "Preludio" (1982) and his catalog contains over 130 works, his ballet "Ciclo de Vida y Muerte" is the work with which he obtained his master's degree at UNAM. Regarding the viola, Coral has written "Tríptico" for Viola and Piano, "Visiones for Viola and Piano", "Concerto for Viola and Chamber Orchestra", "Alucinaciones" for Viola Sola, "El Espacio de lo Intangible" for Violin and Viola, and "Dances and Meditations" for Viola and Guitar.

   The piece we are listening to"Alucinaciones", was written in 2004 and was dedicated to the Mexican violist Omar Hernández-Hidalgo. The work consists of four movements: I. Mares fosforescentes, II. Abismos de Fuego, III. Lunas de jade, IV. Danza, its movements are fast except for the third movement with slow air.

   This performance was made by the violist Omar Hernández-Hidalgo (1971-2010), who was one of the first promoters of the viola in Mexico,  as a performer and professor. Many composers dedicated to him their works, which he premiered in Mexico and abroad. Mr. Hernández was an important musician to the development of viola in Mexico. 

Thanks for reading and listening, see you soon!

Luis Ángel Chab Dzul

https://www.posgrado.unam.mx/musica/div/docentes/personal_docente/coral.html#:~:text=Leonardo%20Flaviano%20Coral%20Garc%C3%ADa&text=Ha%20compuesto%20m%C3%A1s%20de%20130,23%20CD%20con%20su%20m%C3%BAsica.

https://sacm.org.mx/Informa/Biografia/27453