The OTCM reaches 140 years with the challenge of creating audiences and achieving national impact

The Typical Orchestra of Mexico City (OTCM) try to be as stable as possible 140 years after its founding, an anniversary that places it as the oldest active musical group in Mexico and Latin America.

Yesterday a great concert was held at the Palace of Fine Arts to celebrate the anniversary, but with uncertainty due to the current political moment of the country and the capital of the Mexican Republic, due to the changes in their respective six-year administrations, he explained to The Day its artistic director, Alberto Torres Xolocotzi, who assumes such a situation as a challenge and an opportunity.

The musician recalled that the OTCM was founded in 1884 in order to disseminate traditional and popular Mexican music, a mission that remains in force. He highlighted that throughout history these expressions have been fundamental support for national concert music.

As I have mentioned on other occasions, the orchestra needs to have greater visibility. The orchestra arrives in very good spirits, happy, to this celebration in the beautiful Fine Arts hallstated the Tlaxcaltecan flutist, who is also a flute player.

The director said that As in all artistic groups, the changes are always worrying, but on behalf of the capital’s Culture Secretariat they have told us that there is no reason for this fear, that they come with every intention of supporting the orchestra and doing it justice, in a few words, and that encourages us to continue.

Among the main challenges, the director pointed out that more emphasis must be placed on visibility, dissemination and the creation of new audiences, and that the orchestra can go to different places, to be representative of Mexico City and, later, also think about being one on a national scale.

We have composers who are not known because they have not been given justice. There are many who are forgotten and whose rescue is one of the important features of the typical orchestra, as part of its task of disseminating and protecting popular and traditional Mexican music.

Another aspect that stands out about the work of this musical institution and that gives it its uniqueness are the typical instruments that make it up, such as the psalterio, the bandolón, the basso Segundo and the guitar, several of which, in his opinion, if not are valued, they run the risk of disappearing.