A celebration of family, Mexican music and folk tradition
November 1 (Day of the Dead) – 20:00 at the Town Hall
The concert includes composer Michael Giacchino’s complete score performed live. “Remember Me” songwriters KRISTEN ANDERSON LOPEZ and BOBBY LOPEZ will host the show
Coco, the charming Disney and Pixar animated film that tells the story of Miguel Riviera, a 12-year-old boy, and his desire to be a musician despite his family’s ban on music. Part comedy, part drama, wrapped in brilliantly painted magical realism, Miguel’s story unfolds around the Day of the Dead and becomes a celebration of family, Mexican music and folk tradition.
Featuring The Sinfonietta, an all-female orchestra that includes a majority of women of color led by Egyptian-American Macy Schmidt and Latin Grammy-winning mariachi Flor de Toloache, this live concert with music from the Coconut Movie will take place in commemoration of this the year. killed, on Friday, November 1, at 20.00. THE
Programming will include the film’s soundtrack by Oscar- and GRAMMY-winning composer Michael Giacchino, the hit song “Remember Me” by Oscar-winning composers Kristen Anderson-López and Robert López, as well as other songs co-written by composer Germaine Franco and co-author. -director and screenwriter Adrián Molina.
Coco, hailed as a “classic” by critics, won the Academy Award for Animated Film, as well as the Academy Award for Original Song for “Remember Me.” It was directed by Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3), co-directed by Adrian Molina (Monsters University) and produced by Darla K. Anderson (Toy Story 3).
“There’s definitely an established tradition of these kinds of live score events, often with legacy composers and very serious scores,” Schmidt told IndieWire. “But something that really struck me when we started doing cinema shows with the Sinfonietta, mainly because of its demographic, was how prominent this orchestra is.”
He also noted that he wanted to "take the relationship between people on stage, playing music and what’s happening on screen, to a higher level, creatively".
Kristen Anderson López and Bobby López, the Oscar-winning singing team behind the film’s hit song “Remember Me,” will be on hand to host the show. “As New Yorkers,” says Kristen, “we are so excited that our songs will be played live at our beloved Town Hall, the cultural heart of New York, and this night promises to be a true celebration of Mexican culture.” the musicians."
The film tells the story of Miguel (voiced by Anthony González), a boy who, despite his family’s ban on music for generations, loves to play the guitar and idolizes the greatest popular singer and songwriter of the 1920s, Ernesto. de la Cruz (voiced by Benjamin Bratt). Music has been banned in the family since Miguel’s great-grandfather left, abandoning his loved ones to pursue his dreams of stardom. The film’s title character is Miguel’s great-grandmother, who was so traumatized by her father’s disappearance that she became an almost silent presence in the family. But this is only the official story handed down from generation to generation. By chance, after stumbling upon the family’s offering for all souls and finding a torn photograph, Miguel discovers a family connection to his idol, Ernesto. This sets off a chain of events that lead him on a journey to discover the true history of his family and achieve his destiny as a musician.
“It is an honor for us to present the all-female orchestra Sinfonietta and Flor de Toloache on this very special Day of the Dead celebration”said Melay Araya, Artistic Director of the City Council. "We are working with the New York City Department of Education and our neighbors in Midtown to create cultural programs for our community. This includes sending mariachi musicians to city schools, opening our dress rehearsal to public school students and shelter residents, and creating local and street activities on November 1. Coco is the perfect story to bring our community together as we work to open our doors and our city to our new members, as New Yorkers have always done – including Town Hall’s founding voters. ”
As part of the celebration, City Hall will hold an offering at the hall in memory of some of the great souls who have passed through its stage, including Nina Simone, Isaac Stern and Eleanor Roosevelt, and encourages the public to make their own contribution.
