From Mexico, Sinfónica de Minería

Since its founding in 1978, Sinfónica de Minería has been at the heart of Mexico’s cultural life, renowned for bold programming — works seldom or never heard in the country — and an unrelenting pursuit of an exceptional orchestral sound. Today, under artistic director Carlos Miguel Prieto, Minería ranks among the most dynamic and prestigious ensembles in Latin America, a stature underscored by five Grammy nominations for its recordings of Korngold’s Violin Concerto with Philippe Quint (Naxos, 2009) and “Estirpe” (Universal Music, 2022).

“Estirpe,” featuring trumpet virtuoso Pacho Flores and new pieces by Arturo Márquez, Daniel Freiberg, Paquito D’Rivera, Efraín Oscher and Flores himself, put Minería in the history books as the first Mexican orchestra to record for the venerable label Deutsche Grammophon. Sinfónica de Minería won a Latin Grammy in the best classical composition category for its recording with Pacho Flores on the trumpet, in Paquito D’Rivera’s Concierto Venezolano. 

Beyond championing major works rarely performed in Mexico — such as Hector Berlioz’s Grande Messe des Morts, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Antarctic Symphony and the complete orchestral oeuvre of Gustav Mahler — the orchestra has commissioned more than 100 pieces that have become cornerstones of contemporary Mexican music.

In addition, it has commissioned more than 50 works from living composers, marking it as one of the most supportive institutions of contemporary Latin American music. Currently, Sinfónica de Minería is recording the complete orchestral works of Silvestre Revueltas, a groundbreaking project in the history of art in Mexico.

Led by Carlos Miguel Prieto, Sinfónica de Minería will perform two works by Revueltas in an SCP Featured Concert on Jan. 18 at Symphony Center. 

The orchestra’s name pays homage to the iconic Palacio de Minería, a neoclassical building in Mexico City where its early concerts were held. As it continues to evolve, Sinfónica de Minería remains dedicated to its mission of elevating Mexico’s musical landscape and contributing to the global conversation in classical music.