Cuenca Symphony Orchestra's Full April Concert Schedule -- Six Events This Month

Six Chances to Hear Live Classical Music This Month

The Sinfonica de Cuenca (Cuenca Symphony Orchestra) has put together an ambitious April calendar with six events spanning traditional orchestral concerts, chamber music, educational programming, a digital premiere, and contemporary compositions. Whether you're a classical music devotee or just looking for something culturally enriching to do, there's something here for every taste.

Here's the complete schedule:

1. Season Opener: Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff

• Date: Wednesday, April 2 (TONIGHT), 8:00 PM
• Venue: Teatro Casa de la Cultura
• Conductor: Augusto Carrion Rodas
• Program:
  • Prokofiev -- Suite No. 2 from Romeo and Juliet
  • Rachmaninoff -- Symphony No. 2

This is the big one. The season opener with two of the most emotionally powerful works in the Russian orchestral repertoire. Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet suite is cinematic and dramatic -- you'll recognize themes from it even if you've never heard it formally. Rachmaninoff's Second Symphony is one of the great Romantic symphonies, sweeping and lush. This is a statement of ambition from the Sinfonica to open their season with this pairing.

2. Tribute to Father Carlos Crespi

• Date: Thursday, April 10, 8:00 PM
• Venue: Iglesia Maria Auxiliadora
• Conductor: Augusto Carrion Rodas

Father Carlos Crespi was an Italian Salesian priest who spent most of his life in Cuenca and became one of the city's most beloved figures. He was a filmmaker, educator, naturalist, and tireless advocate for the poor. A concert tribute in the church associated with the Salesian mission is a fitting venue choice. Expect a program that reflects his life and legacy.

3. "Alegria Sinfonica" -- Educational Concert

• Date: Wednesday, April 16, 8:30 AM and 10:45 AM (two shows)
• Venue: Teatro Sucre
• Purpose: Anniversary celebration for Chispiola magazine

This is designed for younger audiences as part of the Chispiola magazine anniversary celebrations, but educational concerts by professional orchestras are genuinely entertaining for adults too. If you're curious about the orchestra in a more relaxed, accessible setting, this is a good entry point. Two morning showtimes.

4. Chamber Concert at Pumapungo

• Date: Tuesday, April 22, 3:00 PM
• Venue: Hall del Museo Pumapungo
• Ensemble: String quintet
• Coordinator: Xavier Mora

An intimate afternoon chamber concert in the Pumapungo Museum. String quintet in a museum hall is about as refined as an afternoon in Cuenca gets. The smaller scale means you'll hear every detail, and the Pumapungo setting is a cultural experience in itself -- arrive early and walk through the museum and gardens before the concert.

5. Digital Premiere on YouTube

• Date: Wednesday, April 23, 5:00 PM
• Platform: Sinfonica de Cuenca YouTube channel
• Program:
  • Khachaturian -- Suite No. 2 from Spartacus
  • Saint-Saens -- Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah

Can't make it to a venue? This one comes to you. The Sinfonica is releasing a professionally filmed performance on their YouTube channel. The Spartacus suite includes the famous Adagio that you've heard in movies and commercials, and the Bacchanale is one of the most exciting pieces in the orchestral repertoire. Watch from your couch with a glass of wine.

6. "Intersecciones" -- Contemporary Music Night

• Date: Wednesday, April 30, 8:00 PM
• Venue: Teatro Pumapungo
• Program: Contemporary works by Mesias Maiguashca, Jose Rafael Subia, Juan Campoverde, and Julian Quintero

This one is for the adventurous listener. Mesias Maiguashca is one of Ecuador's most internationally recognized contemporary composers, and the program mixes established names with emerging voices in Ecuadorian art music. If you only know classical music through the usual suspects (Mozart, Beethoven, etc.), this is a chance to hear what living composers from Ecuador are creating.

What This Means for Expats

• Tonight (April 2) is the season opener. If you're reading this in time, the Prokofiev-Rachmaninoff program at Teatro Casa de la Cultura at 8:00 PM is the marquee event of the month. Don't sleep on it
• Ticket prices for the Sinfonica are extremely affordable compared to what you'd pay for comparable orchestral performances in the U.S. or Europe. Most concerts are under $10, and some are free
• The Pumapungo chamber concert on April 22 is a hidden gem. Intimate setting, world-class musicians, beautiful venue. Perfect for a Tuesday afternoon
• The YouTube premiere on April 23 means you can experience the orchestra even if you can't attend in person. Subscribe to their channel in advance so you don't miss it
• April is Foundation Month in Cuenca, and these concerts are part of the broader cultural programming. Combine them with other Foundation Day events for a culturally rich month
• Dress code is relaxed. This is Cuenca, not the Vienna Philharmonic. Smart casual is fine for all venues. Don't let wardrobe anxiety keep you from going
• Teatro Casa de la Cultura, Teatro Sucre, and Teatro Pumapungo are all in or near the historic center and easily reached by foot, taxi, or tram

Six events, six different experiences, one world-class regional orchestra. Cuenca's cultural calendar doesn't get much better than this.

Source: El Mercurio