Saluting Long Beach Symphony’s Maestro

Enrique Arturo Diemecke was the social and musical star at a benefit gala for the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra’s new music director and guest of honor mingled with about 200 supporters during a black-tie dinner and concert at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach.

And he made his official musical bow, playing second violin as he performed Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins with Roger Wilkie, and led the symphony’s chamber orchestra in works that included Revueltas’ “Sensemaya” and Mozart’s Symphony No. 29.

“I hope to bring passion” to Long Beach, said Diemecke, who also conducts orchestras in Michigan and Mexico City. “I want people to feel lucky that we have the opportunity to make music, to bring happiness to the community.”

During last weekend’s pre-dinner reception, guests were serenaded by the lively Inca quartet as they sipped cocktails and toured museum galleries, which showcased exhibits by artists such as Guillermo Trujillo. “We thought it was fitting to introduce our new music director, who was born and raised in Mexico, in this wonderful Latin American art museum,” orchestra executive director Jack A. Fishman said.