OSIPN Honors Polytechnic Day with Special Concert

Reporter: Zenaida Alzaga / Photographer: Israel Vera

The Instituto Politécnico Nacional Symphony Orchestra (OSIPN) premiered a musical piece inspired by the legacy of General Lázaro Cárdenas del Río.

The Instituto Politécnico Nacional Symphony Orchestra (OSIPN) celebrated Polytechnic Day by commemorating the birth anniversary of the founder of the guinda y blanco institution, former Mexican president Lázaro Cárdenas del Río, with an extraordinary concert that featured the premiere of Polytechnic Fanfare: Three Journeys for Symphony Orchestra, composed by Ulises Gómez Pinzón, violist and member of the orchestra.

Joined by the String Quartet of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura (INBAL), the orchestra, under the artistic direction of Maestro Vladimir Sagaydo, delighted attendees on Thursday evening with a performance of Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra, Op. 131 by German composer Louis Spohr (written in 1847), as well as Pictures at an Exhibition by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky.

The OSIPN also showcased its musical excellence through the performance of classical 19th-century works before members of the Polytechnic community and the general public gathered at the “Ing. Alejo Peralta” Auditorium of the “Jaime Torres Bodet” Cultural Center in Zacatenco, the institution’s most important and emblematic cultural venue. Over the years, the auditorium has hosted countless events and, on this occasion, served as the setting for the celebration of the birth anniversary of General Lázaro Cárdenas del Río, former President of Mexico.

The concert opened with the Polytechnic Fanfare, a festive composition evoking the institution’s maroon and white colors and the traditional ¡Huélum!, followed by the premiere of Three Journeys for Symphony Orchestra. According to its composer, the piece was inspired by the work and vision of General Cárdenas del Río, particularly his commitment to bringing education to underserved sectors in a developing nation that required qualified technical professionals to contribute to national progress.

The evening concluded with the performance of the Mambo del Politécnico and the spirited chant of ¡Huélum!, prompting the audience to rise to their feet and applaud the remarkable performance.