Sala de Conciertos Hermilo Novelo
Anillo Perif. 5141, Pedregal de Carrasco, Tlalpan, 14030 Ciudad de México, CDMX
https://www.cultura.cdmx.gob.mx/recintos/archivo-historico/centros-culturales/ccoy
The Cultural Center Ollin Yoliztli has been promoting arts & culture in the southern part of the city for decades, and their efforts have especially been focused on not only promoting, but also teaching the art of making, playing, and enjoying listening to music. As such they have been providing the community of this part of Mexico City, and the entire city really, with a variety of classes teaching every instrument involved in an orchestra (as well as piano) for beginners, intermediates, and advanced students. The whole project is sponsored by Mexico City’s Secretary of Culture.
The Sala Hermilo Novelo (“Hermilo Novelo Hall”) was conceived from the start as the main hall of this “Life and Movement” cultural center (that’s what Ollin Yoliztli means in Nahuatl, the language spoken by the Aztecs). The Hermilo Novelo Hall has been since its inception renowned for the quality of its sound when hosting music played with wind instruments: flute, oboe, bassoon, etc. The hall hosts special events for these instruments that have nationwide recognition, such as the Encuentro Nacional de Fagot (National Bassoon Encounter) which on any given year can include several activities specific to the instrument such as a bassoon contest, master classes, conferences, several recitals, an “open” workshop, and a concert by a renowned bassoon player such as Peter Kolkay.
“The program is designed to promote the bassoon, an instrument that isn’t very popular. We’re all used to the guitar, the piano, but not to these woodwind instruments, which are harder”, said Miviam Ruiz Pérez, Academic Director of the Ollin Yoliztli Cultural Center in 2018.
In 2017 the Hermino Novello Hall received a comprehensive makeover as part of the $50 million pesos renovation of the Ollin Yoliztli Cultural Center, where $20 million went to the Sala José Revueltas (also located inside the center) and the remaining $30 million went to the rest of the complex.
The Sala Hermino Novelo conducts these events in order for the public to be able to recognize new possibilities in repertoire and technique, with the ultimate objective of exploring new roads for musical instruments that have been around for centuries.
