Cenart pays tribute to Manuel Enríquez 30 years after his death

Mexico City. Apart from being a composer, the violinist Manuel Enríquez (1926-1994) was a man polyfacetic in quality of precursor of new musicpromoter of Mexican melodies, cultural ambassador, as well as a public servant, maintains his widow, the painter and curator Susana Enríquez.

April 26 will mark three decades since the death of someone who also ventured into electroacoustic music. For this reason, different instances of the National Arts Center (Cenart) have organized what is emerging as the greatest tribute to his work and figure.

The tribute Unfinished dream: 30th death anniversary of Manuel Enríquezwhich begins today, will include concerts, talks and exhibitions in spaces such as the Arts Library, which houses its archive on loan, as well as the Multimedia Center.

In 2016, on the occasion of the 90th birthday of the founder of the International New Music Forum Manuel Enríquez, Cenart organized an exhibition; however, his music was not played. On this occasion, in addition to the focus being on his role as a performer, five concerts have been scheduled dedicated entirely to his art. In one, Alberto Cruzprieto will play his complete work composed for piano, while in another, the Bellas Artes String Quartet will perform the five works by The string quartets.

Enríquez did not usually program his own works; Even after his death, there was resistance to playing his music. “They didn’t want to remember him or schedule him, they said it was too soon, that he had enemies, that they didn’t want him. That affected me because I always wanted his music to be played. Once an orchestra director told me: ‘Susana, it’s too soon. Manuel had many enemies, we cannot program it.’

That hurt me because Manuel worked not only for himself, but for others, for Mexican music and education. I wanted to promote Manuel, he knocked on doors, but it was difficultsays Susana Enriquez to The Conference. In fact, a few years after the death of her husband, she went to Australia on a scholarship to study for a doctorate in arts. Previously, she gave the composer’s collection on loan to the Arts Library as part of its special collections, with access for researchers, students and people interested in her legacy.

Manuel Enríquez’s collection consists not only of scores, but of his personal correspondence, reel tapes, books, photographs, his collection of music from other latitudes and official documents.

Susana Enríquez indicates that after 2000, many reel tapes were transferred to the National Sound Library to be stabilized, restored and digitized. The Sound Library also has the sound collection on loan. A digital copy was made for the Arts Library to have for reference.details the painter.

Textures and colors

There are three exhibitions included in the tribute. The first, Unfinished dream, with documents from Enríquez’s personal collection, will open today in the lobby of the Arts Library. On April 18, in the Black Forum of the Manuel Felguérez Gallery, the sound installation will be exhibited In-móvil: Listening experience around the electroacoustic work of Manuel Enríquez. That same day the third exhibition will be inaugurated, She and him: The colors in the music of Manuel Enríquezcured by his wife and with a performance by the flutist Evangelina Reyes.

According to Susana Enríquez, Manuel was a man interested not only in music, but also in art. He talked about textures and colors. This exhibition, which is a tribute to him, is not an exercise in synesthesia, but rather a recreation and playful game of sounds and colors..

There will also be three conversations, in which figures such as Eugenia Revueltas, Sergio Cárdenas, Pilar Urreta and Margarita Pruneda will participate. The program of activities will also be carried out in conjunction with the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature, the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the Society of Authors and Composers of Mexico.

The tribute Unfinished dream: 30th death anniversary of Manuel Enríquez will conclude on June 1 at the National Center for the Arts (Río Churubusco 79, Country Club neighborhood).