As the 2023-24 season comes to a close, we sat down with Music Director José Luis Gomez to gather his reflections on the season; evaluate TSO’s efforts towards increasing inclusivity, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA); and what he is most looking forward to in the 2024-25 season.
2023-24 Season Highlights
I had a great time meeting the people from Calexico. It was great to see the music hall full and the energy from the audience was very exciting. I feel like the orchestra and Calexico connected so well in that performance. Verdi’s Requiem was very special for me because it is a very important work in the repertoire. It was also my first time conducting the Requiem and I loved how Marcela Molina prepared the chorus. I think it marked an incredible high point of the collaboration between the chorus and the orchestra under the new leadership of Dr. Molina. Lastly, I’m really looking forward to the Yo-Yo Ma concert. I’m sure it is going to be a great take away from this season.
This season was also one of the first times I have heard the orchestra perform a Masterworks Concert as an audience member. I was arriving back in Tucson from a guest conducting engagement in D.C. and the timing of my arrival made it possible for me to attend the Sunday performance of the final Masterworks concert (Beethoven’s Fourth) conducted by François López-Ferrer. It was great to listen to the orchestra in that environment. I don’t necessarily detach myself from my role as Music Director but I’m a very good concert listener and I enjoy listening to concerts and listening to the orchestra under other conductors because it shows not only the work that we do together, but you know, the incredible flexibility that the orchestra can have.
TSO’s Inclusion Diversity Equity and Access (IDEA) Journey
I think we’re already in the middle part of our (IDEA) journey, but I see room for development and expansion. I think we’re resonating with what Tucson is, the Hispanic component of this community is huge. ¡Celebración latina! has been a great initiative that mixes Hispanic culture and influences into all the different levels of our structure meaning guest artists, guest composers, collaborations like Mexican Independence Day concert with the Mexican consulate, and of course the repertoire. I would like to continue to strongly develop this in the next few years and make it an integral part of the identity of the orchestra.
Thoughts on the 2024-25 Season
What I’m most looking forward to in the coming season is the message of “Discover the Mix”, because the season is set to be a great mix of all that we have tried to showcase since the beginning of my tenure. A big part of which is the superior quality of the orchestra’s playing. The programs that are scheduled are going to showcase that. I also like the fact that we have a lot of music from living composers, including representing a lot of the different aspects of the Tucson community especially Hispanic composers, American composers, and works from other leading composers from other parts of the world which is really cool. I think this coming season more than others highlights what is happening in the music world right now. I’m really looking forward to seeing the mix of core repertoire and of living composers coming together.
This June you can catch Maestro Gomez conducting Puccini’s La bohème in St. Louis, Missouri. For more information on dates and tickets visit: joseluisgomezconductor.com
