At the Walt Disney Concert Hall, John Williams and Gustavo Dudamel curate an archeological musical excavation into the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema.
By John Lavitt
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 11-30-2024
When John Williams and Gustavo Dudamel combine their brilliant minds, wonderful ideas emerge and become a musical reality. In a fascinating and incredibly well-researched excavation into the musical compositions of the Golden Age of Cinema in Mexico and the United States, the two men acted as archeological excavators of a once-celebrated past. In today’s changing world, many of these past works of genius are being forgotten as new generations focus solely on the future. However, “An Evening of Film & Music: From Mexico to Hollywood,” as part of the ongoing John Williams Spotlight series, provided an enthralling look into the value and beauty of the music and the movies.
Divided by the intermission into a Mexican and American half, the LA Phil, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, played a wide array of outstanding composers. Although the Hollywood section was lovely, the Mexican excavation proved to be the real revelation. Sadly, many great movies of the Mexican Golden Age of Cinema never made it to the mainstream of American cinemas or television. Thus, the presentation of the Mexican composers’ music and the films felt new and exciting.
In the concert program presentation, the LA Phil wrote, “From the late 1930s through the early 1960s, the film industries of Mexico and Hollywood flourished, each creating an output of beloved movies and cherished scores that continue to impress. Legendary composer John Williams curates, and Gustavo Dudamel conducts a cinematic journey through a selection of these works, from Comedia Ranchera to Casablanca… showcasing troubadours from cowboy musicals alongside epic scores from the country’s most famous composers such as Silvestre Revueltas and Manuel Esperón. In addition, influential filmmakers including the surrealist auteur Luis Buñuel, director/actor Emilio “El Indio” Fernández, and beloved comedian Cantinflas (Mario Moreno) mined the interaction between sound and vision to inspired results.”
Indeed, the clips from the movies of Cantinflas were nothing less than amazing. Known in America mainly for a supporting role in Around The World In Eighty Days, the Mexican comedian was shown to be the comedic equal of Charlie Chaplin and the Marx Brothers. Deftly using physical comedy to express emotion and desire, the comedian’s brilliance was enhanced by the precision playing of the LA Phil. It made you want to see more.
In the second half, the highlight was Bing Wang on violin, helping to bring what is perhaps the greatest movie of Hollywood’s Golden Age to life — Casablanca. The music of Casablanca is so iconic, and Bing Wang paid enormous tribute to its classic compositions. She must have made Gustavo Dudamel and John Williams proud with such an impassioned performance.
In the future, before Gustavo Dudamel leaves for the New York Philharmonic, we can only hope that he works more with John Williams to put on such incredible concerts. At 92 years and counting, it is hard to know how long the legendary composer will still be with us. Indeed, he is a Los Angeles treasure, and it makes perfect sense for the LA Phil to continue honoring this fantastic man and his deep insights into classical music.
