Pride, Tradition Take Center Stage at Fiesta Navidad

A sense of pride in folkloric tradition pervaded the Fiesta Navidad on Sunday at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Yet, this was no assembly of humble street entertainers. On the contrary, coordinator Natividad Cano presided over a highly stylized cross-section of regional musics and dances.

Cano’s own Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, based in Los Angeles since 1969, held sway among the multifaceted participants.

Members of the ensemble--most of whom switched adroitly between positions as singing instrumentalists and as solo vocalists--brought verve and adeptness to realizations of their director’s demanding arrangements.

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For this program, which was sponsored by the Orange County Philharmonic Society and the center, Mariachi Tlaquepaque and Conjunto Hueypan joined them to present festive examples of the genre, from Veracruz, Michoacan and Jalisco.

Several strong voices stood out from among the throng--if only for sheer lung power--but Arturo Palacio’s evocative performance of the popular “Granada,” by Agustin Lara shone brightest.

Much of the event drew its inspiration from the fiesta of Las Posadas, a symbolic re-enactment of the story of Joseph and Mary’s pilgrimage to Bethlehem and their search for shelter. Part of the group requests lodging from the “hosts,” who initially refuse, but later relent, thereby beginning the celebration.

Here, two Ballets Folklorico--Olin and UCLA, which train under Adriana Almaquer and Virginia Diediker, respectively--lent colorful vibrancy. Roper Tony Munoz fascinated with lasso acrobatics, aptly accompanied by strains of “Las Olas” (The Waves).

Cano urged the capacity audience in 2,994-seat Segerstrom Hall to join in some of the most familiar portions--including a set of traditional carols, sung in Spanish. He found eager cooperation. Apparently, the energy and cultural self-esteem onstage communicated well.