Mar, 06/24/2025 – 09:38 am | By: Dr Mike Lopinto
Dr. Gregory Wolynec of the University of Mississippi du Sud (USM) has published a new version of Osvaldo Golijov “”The Pasión Según San Marcos » This breathes a new life in incredible work for the orchestra, the percussion set and the refrain.
Under the direction of Wolynec, the monumental piece – which mixes elements of salsa, Gregorian song, flamenco and folk music – is published using advanced technology to hire new listeners and provide a new perspective on a contemporary classic. The recording, featuring the Gateway Chamber Orchestra and Choir under the direction of Wolynec, was recently published by Summit Records in audio formats and is available wherever you broadcast or buy music. It is also available in a 20-minute pioneer virtual reality format on epic platforms and Steam. In addition, full performance is available on YouTube using 360 -degree video technology. Plans are already underway for live performances in Hattiesburg.
Originally created in 2000, “”The Pasión Según San Marcos » was created as part of a celebration of JS Bach 250thbirthday. It mixes genres and cultures, crossing the traditional limits of classical music. For more than a decade, the play was produced by a dedicated set, the Orquesta la Pasión, as well as the Schola Cantorum of Venezuela. In 2015, performances had become rare. Wolynec has seen the opportunity to invigorate the work, based on the rich diversity of talents within the Chamber Gateway orchestra in Tennessee (of which he is also a musical director) and the Middle Communities from the environment from which she pulled.
“The first time I heard this masterpiece, I was immediately captivated by the way it mixed so many different musical worlds”, “,” Wolynec shared. “It is a job that changes life that defies musicians in so many wonderful ways. Once we are committed to presenting it, I had to spend almost six months sorting how to bring it together and assemble the necessary forces. ”
Wolynec, who supervised the performance of the work in 2022 and 2023 with the Gateway orchestra Chamber and choir, assembled a choir of 50, a 20 and five additional percussionist orchestra. The orchestra requires a wide range of instruments, including traditional strings, brass and percussion. However, the work also provides nearly 40 exotic instruments which require a specialization such as Congga and Batá Tambour.
“In the end, we had to bring in two original creative partners for work – the dancer Reynaldo Gonzalez Fernandez and the percussionists Mike Ringquist,” said Wolynec. “The choir needed to have a rustic sound, so we enlisted many of my instrumental students from the State University of Austin Peay and discovered that we had some salsa naturals among their ranks. It was also very special to ensure that Mezzo Luisana (Rivas), a former student of me, to sing several featured. ”
Live recordings were captured in 2023 and were released to mark the 25thth anniversary of the work. It was a historic moment for Wolynec and his whole. As it had only been presented before by Orquesta la Pasión with the Schola Cantorum du Venezuela, these recordings offer the opportunity to live a new interpretation of this classic. The winning sound engineer of a Grammy, John Hill, was recruited to capture the audio in the highest possible resolution. Due to the theatrical nature of the work, including the use of Capoeira Dancing, Wolynec worked with Agile Lens based in New York. Under the direction of Alex Coulombe, their team creates immersive experiences for real and virtual worlds.
“Being able to present this new perspective in three different formats has made a huge effort, but I am so satisfied with the results”, ” Wolynec explained. “The technologies that have been used have never been used in our field. I was extremely excited to share the audio version of this work, but I also hoped to capture our performance in a more immersive way. An important Google grant allowed us to associate ourselves with Agile Lines. The people with whom I shared this version called him breathtaking. »»
With Wolynec at the head of the famous USM Symphony Orchestra, the music school explores the means to bring “”The Pasión Según San Marcos » On the stage in the near future, offering the whole community a chance to live this work in all its glory. This ambitious project underlines the importance of collaboration and the power of music to reject cultures and experiences. The music school continues to be a leader in the supply of various and significant musical experiences for students and the wider community. With the management of Wolynec and the collective talent of our faculty, Southern Miss continues to make her mark as a hub for musical innovation and excellence.