Guatemala, September 2025. On September 23, 2025, the Efraín Recinos Great Hall of the National Theater of Guatemala will be the stage for a historic event for contemporary music: the world premiere of two monumental works by the Guatemalan maestro and genius Joaquín Orellana. The public will have the honor of witnessing for the first time the works Antinomiaand Transiciones, a testament to his continued creativity and ingenuity, under the direction of Maestro Julio César Santos, who has a deep understanding of Orellana's work.

Joaquín Orellana, an iconic figure in contemporary music, has dedicated his life to a unique musical creation and his original "sound tools".  These instruments - of great plastic beauty - give life to the sounds treasured in Orellana's mind for more than nine decades and which for him represent the sonic memory of Guatemala, rich in textures and colors like the country itself.  

The concert is part of the June Festival, which celebrates the anniversary of the Miguel Ángel Asturias Cultural Center, and which each year extends its programming to promote the work of the greatest national creators.

About the works

Antinomy

This piece, Orellana's second creation for "sound instruments" and strings, is the first work conceived to be performed with his "sound sculptures" and a string quintet, composed of musicians from the National Symphony Orchestra, explains Maestro Santos.

In Orellana's own words: "The basic meaning of the term antinomy is the contradiction between two laws or two precepts of a law; but in its extension and generality, every contradiction is antinomic. Thus, the work Antinomyis itself a contradiction, due to the use of my percussion 'sound tools' alongside traditional musical instruments."             

The Maestro elaborates on this dichotomy: "On the one hand, there are stringed instruments played with a bow, that is, string is rubbed against string, producing a melodic sound of great beauty and a vibrato characteristic of the purism of the Classical period." In contrast: "On the other hand, there are my unique 'sound tools' and 'sound sculptures,' completely opposite, played mostly by means of percussion, which produce an exotic, ancestral, and arguably unprecedented sound," Orellana concludes.

Transitions

The second work of the premiere, Transitions, represents an exciting and bold fusion between two artistic worlds: the experimental sound of the 'sound sculptures' of Maestro Joaquín Orellana and the artistic expression of three talented contemporary dancers.

The piece is built on the foundation of Orellana's musical universe, where the music is not just an accompaniment, but becomes another character on stage, dictating the rhythm and atmosphere of the choreography.

Against this sonic backdrop, dancers Betsabé Santos, Azucena Santos, and Lara de León perform a choreography that engages directly with Orellana's resonances. Each, with her own style and experience in contemporary dance, contributes a layer of movement and emotion that both contrasts with and complements the music. The piece is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, where sound and movement intertwine to create a visual and auditory narrative that explores the concept of Transition: a journey from the known to the unexpected, from tradition to the avant-garde.

About the Management

“Directing a work by Joaquín Orellana is a rewarding challenge,” explains Maestro Julio Santos, “it requires experience and a deep visual and auditory knowledge of musical interpretation, which ranges from the placement of the 'sound tools' on the stage, to the handling of the gesture technique that he performs as a director, a mixture of traditional movements and others specific to operate the tools of Maestro Orellana,” he explains.

Santos adds that the performance's repertoire includes other works he has already conducted, such as Fantoidea, Ramajes de una Marimba imaginaria, and Bambuvento. Despite his previous experience, he emphasizes that "it is always a challenge to tackle a work that combines traditional instruments with the monumental 'sound sculptures' of Maestro Joaquín Orellana."

Finally, the Director extends an invitation to art schools, universities and other educational centers to give their students the opportunity to learn about the music and "sound tools" of Maestro Orellana, by contacting him via WhatsApp at the number: 5806 8368.

Concert information:

• World premiere of Antinomy and Transitions by Joaquín Orellana
• September 23, 2025, at 8:00 p.m.
• Efraín Recinos Great Hall of the National Theater, Miguel Ángel Asturias Cultural Center
• Admission Q100.00

Tickets can be purchased via the following link or QR code:

https://festivaldejunio.mcd.gob.gt/eventos/la-musica-de-joaquin-orellana-y-sus-escultura-sonoras/

More information for the journalist:

Rosa María Paniagua, Cell and WhatsApp:  4183 3428

Doris Estrada, Cell and WhatsApp 3335 3762