Ofunam recreated the fantastic adventures of ‘Cri-Cri’

Mexico City. Girls and boys of all ages enjoyed the songs of the Mexican composer Francisco Gabilondo Soler, performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (Ofunam) this weekend in the Nezahualcóyotl hall, to bring concert music closer to the childhoods.

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With the program Of letters, witches and mice: 90 years dreaming of Cri-Cri, The XEW radio broadcasts of the 1930s were evoked, where a voice announced: “Who is that walking there? He is Cri-Cri. Es Cry-Cry! ?And who is this man? He Grillo Cantor”.

The tenor Alonso Sicairos-León, the baritone Enrique Ángeles, the soprano Ana Rosalía Ramos and the mezzo-soprano Linda Saldaña were the narrators and main voices of the stories and compositions of the singing cricket, which have transcended time and continue to touch the souls of children and Adults.

Ofunam, with Inés Rodríguez as guest director, began the show with school walk, while at the back of the stage, images of various animals were projected on a screen. The audience accompanied the song with applause.

The piece continued The jack of the J, which featured the participation of dancers who spread joy with their movements and the sound of castanets.

As the show went on, the audience recognized the characters from Gabilondo Soler’s creations: The old clothesman, The cowboy mouse, The ugly doll and The neighborhood cat.

Each song was followed by a brief story about the life of the singing cricket and his musical diversity, with which he shared his perspective on life.

The Nezahualcóyotl room of the University Cultural Center was transformed into one of the XEW studios, as if it were a live broadcast, since advertisements of the time were also broadcast, for products such as Chocolate Milo.

Everyone present was passionate about the fantastic adventures of Cri-Cri and that world populated by people, animals, goblins and beings of diverse nature, whose function is to entertain and awaken the imagination.

Music and narrative were combined in this Ofunam proposal made in the context of Children’s Day, which is celebrated tomorrow. It was a trip back in time full of nostalgia, where, above all, the adults sang and remembered their childhood.

With the support of some scenic elements, the performers recreated the songs; for example, the one in which we listen to the conversation between a pair of kitchen utensils. The comal complains that the pot is dirtying him with soot and the pot responds by calling him presumptuous.

Another of the songs that the orchestra performed was The wardrobe, that talks about grandma’s treasures, like a dress that makes noise when you walk and a book with pictures. Years go by and these stories continue to move; It is impossible not to remember family moments, next to our grandparents.

Amalgamation of genres

There were also fun moments at the concert, like when the cowboy mouse came on stage, who was received with a loud ovation and did the dance between hats and shouts.

The music of Gabilondo Soler, who before becoming a singing grillito practiced boxing and swimming, is an amalgamation of genres that range from tango to blues, including ragtime and danzón.

The diversity in the compositions introduced children to the wide palette of Mexican and world popular music.

In addition to the songs and advertisements, this sound program also celebrated the 90 years of the creation of Cri Cri. Likewise, the classic greetings to the audience were heard from the announcer-narrator, who asked for the Goya university cheer.

Other songs that were enjoyed at the concert were My Spider, The Snack, Candy I, Jorobite, Chon Ki Fu y witches song, that have marked the childhood of many generations.

The Ofunam concert, whose stage director and producer was Ragnar Conde, shows that the legacy of Cri-Cri He is still alive and his music is a source of inspiration for young and old, who never stop dreaming.

At the end of the presentation, the orchestra dedicated The mornings al Grillo Cantor, who was immortalized in the collective memory since his debut, on October 15, 1934, on the XEW radio waves.