Mexican maestro José Areán to conduct the Jordanian National Orchestra

AMMAN — Renowned Mexican conductor José Areán is in town, invited by the Mexican embassy in Jordan. He will be conducting the Jordanian National Orchestra for an exceptional concert to take place on Thursday evening at Al Hussein Cultural Centre. The event is aptly billed as a Mexican-Jordanian friendship concert.

In addition to impressive credentials and an already brilliant international career, Arean possesses the one quality that prevails over all others when it comes to leadership and orchestral conducting: charisma. It only takes a few minutes talking to the maestro to realise how charismatic he is.

Speaking to The Jordan Times over a cup of coffee in the hall of a hotel in Amman, and in presence of the Mexican consul Mariana Herrera, Areán said that he has already made rehearsals with the local orchestra and was very happy with the outcome. He said that the musicians “were very much motivated” and that “this makes a big difference in the end”.

He commented further, saying that whereas the local musicians did have the technical skills required for difficult interpretation of modern music, motivation often compensates for and even comes as a more important factor than just pure technical skills.

Himself a pianist and guitarist, Arean belongs to the new generation that easily bridges the gap between classical music and perhaps more commercial genres such as, for instance, pop music. 

An open mind and the ability to “crossover” styles is one of the traits of great musicians today. Music should always be alive he added, insisting that in his book of rules “the orchestra must not be a museum”. He explained that there is currently a profusion of Mexican classical musicians and composers, and that all types of music nicely co-exist.

He spoke at length and with passion about famous Mexican musicians who truly shine in their country and abroad, naming, among others, tenors Francisco Araiza and Javier Camarena.

The programme of Thursday’s concert is made of a very interesting blend. There will be a piece especially composed by maestro Mohammad Siddiq, the resident conductor of the Jordanian National Orchestra and the director of the National Music Conservatory. The piece is titled Trumpet poem and will feature soloist Hind Sabanegh on trumpet.

Areán will also be conducting several pieces composed by Mexican musicians: Arturo Marquez and Jose Pablo Moncayo, and one arranged by Carlos Chavez but originally written by Danish-German organist Dietrich Buxtehude, a chaconne in E minor.

Last but not least, Areán was still keen to have one traditional classical piece on the programme, the beautiful Piano Concerto No. 2 by Franz Liszt that will feature Ghadeer Abdo on piano.