Timothy Chooi Debuts in Mexico with Virtuosity and Emotion at Teatro Degollado

24 May 2025

On May 23, 2025, the historic Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara hosted a remarkable evening of music as part of the Festival Cultural de Mayo, with Canada as the guest country. The Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Japanese maestro Toshiyuki Shimada, presented a program honoring French composer Maurice Ravel.

The evening began with Ravel’s Alborada del Gracioso, a festive and rhythmically vibrant piece inspired by Spanish music, performed with precision and dynamic energy by the orchestra.

Canadian violinist Timothy Chooi made his long-awaited Mexican debut with Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64, dazzling the audience with a combination of flawless technique and heartfelt expression. A surprise moment came when Chooi offered an unannounced encore: Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, which moved the audience to a standing ovation and left the hall in reverent silence.

After intermission, the orchestra continued with Ravel’s Pavane for a Dead Princess and concluded with Daphnis et Chloé Suites Nos. 1 and 2, showcasing its full sonic power and expressive range.