Riviera Maya, Mexico — The Festival Paax GNP, described as a celebration of the world’s finest dance and symphonic music in the Mexican Caribbean, will return for its fourth edition from June 19 to 29 at the Hotel Xcaret Arte. The event, founded in 2022 by conductor Alondra de la Parra, who serves as its artistic director, will feature renowned artists in symphonic and chamber concerts, a ballet gala, and culinary showcases.
A Stellar Lineup of International Talent
The festival will showcase performances by the Orquesta Imposible, the event’s resident ensemble, alongside internationally acclaimed soloists such as Thomas Enhco, Matías Piñeira, Lydia Shelley, Daniel Hope, Tom Thum, and Vassilena Serafimova. In dance, Christopher Wheeldon will serve as choreographer-in-residence, with principal dancers from London’s Royal Ballet, including Steven McRae, taking the stage.
The Keystone Big Bang and several chamber groups formed by members of the Orquesta Imposible will also perform across the 10-day program.
Inaugural Concert and World Premieres
The festival opens on June 19 at 8 p.m. in the Hotel Xcaret Arte’s Salón Diego with a concert titled Passion, Ritual, and Farce. The program includes Silvestre Revueltas’ Homenaje a Federico García Lorca, R43, the world premiere of Oriol Cruixent’s Concerto Rapa Nui, and Igor Stravinsky’s Suite Pulcinella (1949 version), featuring French horn soloist Matías Piñeira.
Another world premiere, Así te veo Yucatán by composer María del Carmen Virgilio, will debut during the festival.
Diverse Concert Programming
Additional performances include:
- From Twilight to Dawn
- Energy in Motion
- Gershwin in Three Voices
- Gershwin, Life in Blue
- Timeless Sounds
- Rhythmic Architectures
- Streams and Torrents
Each concert will highlight works by composers such as Edward Elgar, Antonín Dvořák, Benjamin Britten, Grażyna Bacewicz, Claude Debussy, Ezio Bosso, Manuel Esperón, Arturo Márquez, and José Pablo Moncayo.
Ballet Gala Highlights
On June 27, the ballet gala will present Christopher Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour, set to music by Ezio Bosso. The program also includes:
- The pas de deux from Cinderella, choreographed by Sir Frederick Ashton with music by Sergei Prokofiev
- Them/Us, another Wheeldon piece with music by Keaton Henson
- A duet from Raymonda, choreographed by Marius Petipa with music by Alexander Glazunov
The Xcaret Ballet Company will also perform.
Closing Concert
The festival concludes on June 29 with a performance by the Armonía Social orchestra, featuring:
- Obertura mexicana by Isaac J. Merle
- Suite México by Manuel Esperón
- Conga del Fuego Nuevo and Danzón No. 2 by Arturo Márquez
- Huapango by José Pablo Moncayo
The full program is available at festivalpaaxgnp.com.
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