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Latino Life
News and features about San Antonio's Mexican-American population, their lifestyles, leaders, heroes and hot topics.

June 19, 2007

Few of those holding tickets to "Placido Domingo En Concierto: Desde el Corazon" probably know that the tenor will perform four songs with the San Antonio group Mariachi Los Galleros.

They also might be unaware that Domingo has a history of performing mariachi classics, producing a CD in 1999 titled "Placido Domingo: 100 Years of Mariachi."

061907_cdcover.jpgA long tradition links the two genres. Many professional mariachis are classically trained, as are those who play in symphonies and opera companies. Mariachi groups at this level perform with opera greats. The legendary Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, for example, often performs with symphonies, and the great mariachi vocalists are trained by opera singers.

Anyone who has ever heard Vargas do Andrea Bocelli's "Por Ti Volare" has heard the powerful and passionate connection. The Vargas version is called "Por Ti Cantare y Volare."

In tonight's performance at the Alamodome, Domingo and Galleros will perform two Jose Alfredo Jimenez classics, "Ella" and "Sin Nos Dejan." In the latter, Domingo will do a duet with Argentine soprano Virginia Tola.

San Antonian Miguel Guzman, leader of Galleros, says working with Domingo has been an incredible experience. He calls him "Maestro," Spanish for teacher and master.

"Maestro is very respectful toward musicians," says Guzman, who reports that Domingo changed notes on their arrangements various times and his musicians penciled in the changes, keeping up with him at every turn.

Working with Domingo is exposing mariachi music not only to a new audience, Guzman says, but underscores the pros they are. He hopes the show grows into more collaborations with San Antonio Opera.

Guzman also wants to do "something similar to what Mariachi Vargas did with the Andrea Bocelli song" and create a mariachi arrangement around an operatic piece. "The opportunities are wide open, and I've realized that by being around the Maestro."

Domingo and Galleros also will perform "Serenata Tapatia" and "Adoro."

For those interested in hearing more of the group, its first CD, "Mariachi Los Galleros de San Antonio," is out. Tejano singer Esmeralda Guzman, the leader's wife, and former Vargas member Manuel Vargas perform on the CD.

Elaine Ayala
Vibrant mariachi "gets the audience into it"
Talented troupe plays for annual Mexican Rodeo
By Joey Bunch
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 01/14/2008 01:20:57 AM MST


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Ideal weather kicks up prize-size crowdVibrant mariachi reflects cultureSix violins produced the melody for "Ave Maria" at the Coliseum at the National Western Complex on Sunday morning, as two Mexican guitars plucked out the notes.

The music for Mass was the intersection of symphony and hacienda, as the 10-member Mariachi Los Galleros played for the National Western Stock Show's Cowboy Mass.

When the musicians, including two trumpeters, sang, their harmonies were perfect.

Gerry Raines, a rancher from Wyoming, was walking by outside the sparse crowd at worship when he heard the mariachi.

"If you don't love God," he said in a Western drawl, "you'd still love that music."

Miguel Guzman can't help being biased.

"The music is everything," said Guzman, the lead violinist and director of the

Nicolas Diaz, 4, looks up to his father, Jerry Diaz, at the start of the Mass held Sunday at the Coliseum at the National Western Complex. (Mark T. Osler, The Denver Post )San Antonio troupe that accompanies the Mexican Rodeo across the country.
And he's not just talking about church.

Everything about the mariachi bands is a reflection of culture.

The mariachis became prevalent in the 19th century, as roaming workers formed musical troupes as they traveled to haciendas looking for jobs, sometimes finding them as musicians for weddings and other celebrations.

Today mariachis wear costumes, a "traje" of black pants and short jacket and a large bow tie. The costumes are reminders of the Mexican Revolution, similar to the costumes the charros, or Mexican horsemen, wear in the rodeo.

The Mexican Rodeo attracts thousands of Western Latinos, with its pageantry and celebrations. It also educates others. The Mexican rodeo, after all, is not a competition but an exhibition of the Mexican cowboy cultures.

"It's a lot better than Cinco de Mayo," said Jeff Torres of Aurora, a second-generation American, before Saturday night's rodeo. "I know my kids get more out of this than anything else, just because it's festive and fun."

That's the job of the mariachi at such celebrations, from Mass to death-defying bucking bulls, Guzman said.

"It's the history. It's the culture," he said. "It gets the audience into it, and when the charro is on the back of that bull, I think it gives him spirit and strength."