Leonardo Coral
He studied with Federico Ibarra at the FaM UNAM (Faculty of Music, National Autonomous University of Mexico). He obtained his master's degree in composition (UNAM) with the symphonic work "Ciclo de vida y muerte" (thesis advised by María Granillo). His output comprises approximately 150 works, performed by prominent musicians in Mexico, Europe, the United States, Canada, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Latin America. He has received various grants from FONCA and SACPC. He was admitted to the National System of Art Creators (SNCA) in 2001, 2010, 2015, and 2022. There are 41 CDs featuring his music, 5 of which are monographic. He has won various awards in Mexico and abroad. He is a full-time professor at FaM UNAM.
Leonardo Coral's creative work is closely related to the visual arts. His father, Flaviano Coral (1928-2018), was a painter and a member of the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana. Leonardo Coral grew up among paintings and painters; his mind is an arsenal of forms, colors, and textures that suggest diverse, even mythological, musical symbolisms. This gives rise to works such as: "El jardín de las delicias" (The Garden of Earthly Delights) for flute and orchestra, inspired by the work of Hieronymus Bosch (El Bosco); "Trío Homenaje a Siqueiros"; "Katharsis" for violin and strings, inspired by the mural by José Clemente Orozco; "Piezas fantásticas" (Fantastic Pieces) for violin and piano, based on "La muerte danzando" (Death Dancing) by Dominique Menkes; and "Cuatro lienzos sinfónicos" (Four Symphonic Canvases), inspired by works of his father. His Guitar Sonata No. 2 is a tribute to the painter Marco Ospina.
Among his works for chorus and orchestra, there are significant pieces: the cantata "Un Sueño de Sor Juana", "Xinantécatl", "Tierra de Sombra", and "Requiem"; as well as the opera "La máscara de la muerte roja" (The Masque of the Red Death), based on a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. Literary influence has also been important. Likewise, he has written songs with texts by Pablo Neruda, and "Un viaje" (A Journey) for soprano, flute, and piano, with texts by seven Latin American poets.
Among his orchestral works, we can mention "Águila real", "Máquina férrea", "Alegorías", "Animales míticos", and "Concierto para orquesta". The concertante form holds an important place in his output: 2 guitar concertos, 4 piano concertos, 2 violin concertos, Concerto for tenor saxophone and strings, Viola Concerto, Clarinet Concerto, Cello Concerto, Concerto for piano and chamber ensemble, Harpsichord Concerto, Organ Concerto, and Concerto for saxophone and orchestra.
In his chamber and ensemble works, one can observe an interest in mythology, as well as in dance forms, altered states of consciousness, and the mysteries of existence: "Orígenes", "Arquetipos", "Oceánico", "Danzas orgiásticas", "Monstruos marinos", "Los mysteries de la noche", "Danzas y meditaciones", "Visiones", "Alucinaciones", "La danza del infinito", "Evocaciones", "Selva amazónica", "Percepciones", "Ensoñaciones", "4 poemas", and "Sueños lúcidos".
There is also a preoccupation with formal structure: 3 string quartets, 2 mixed quintets, 2 sonatas for violin and piano, Sonata for cello and piano, Sonata for clarinet and piano, 2 guitar sonatas, 11 piano sonatas, 3 series of 12 preludes for piano, "Aforismos", "Sonata no tan breve", Sonata for two flutes and piano, Suite for harpsichord, Sonata for two pianos "Resonancias nocturnas", and Suite for guitar.
Solos
I. Pintura y realidad; II. Aspiración y lucha; III. Flor; IV. Abstracción y figuración; V. El sueño
Dedicada a Juan Carlos Laguna
I. En la penumbra; II. Laberinto con lodo rojizo; III. Prismas que desdoblan las ideas; IV. Pliegues de la tierra en el sueño
Dedicada a Antonio Segura
I. Evocación; II. Pentáfona; III. Vals; IV. Melodía; V. Coral; VI. En modo jónico; VII. Leyenda; VIII. Marcha; IX. En modo mixolidio
General
I. Formas resonantes; II. Impulso sanguíneo; III. Prisma; IV. Azulosa evolución; V, Síntesis
Dedicada a Leonardo Villeda
I. Formas resonantes; II. Impulso sanguíneo; III. Prisma; IV. Azulosa evolución; V. Síntesis
I. Vivo; II. Espressivo; 3. Con fuoco; IV. Interludio; V. Final
Dedicado a María Teresa Frenk
I. Germinación; II. Los tesoros de la sombra; III. Tan solo ese anhelo que se pierde en la tarde; IV. El espíritu del fuego
I. Oleaje; II. Monstruos marinos; III. Interludio; IV. Corrientes abisales
I. Toccata; II. Andante espressivo; III. Allegro con brio
Estreno: 12 de junio de 2015. Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de Michoacán, Miguel Salmón del Real, dir.; María Teresa Frenk, pf. XXXVII FIMN. Teatro Ocampo, Morelia, Michoacán
I. Andante espressivo; II. Presto; III. Andante cantabile; IV. Allegro con brio
Estreno: 2005. OFCM, Juan Trigos, dir.; Teresa Frenk, pf. Foro Internacional de Música Nueva
I. Génesis; II. Paraíso; III. Paraíso terrenal; IV. Interludio; V. Infierno
Estreno: 25 de noviembre de 2017. OFUNAM, Andrés Cárdenes, dir. Sala Nezahualcóyotl
Basado en la obra pintada por el Bosco. Dedicado a Alejandro Escuer
I. Preámbulo; II. Hojarasca; III. Noche; IV. Danza; V. Final
Dedicada a Marisa Canales y Juan Carlos Laguna
I. Presto energico; II. Espressivo; III. Vivo energico
Estreno: 2003. Orquesta Carlos Chávez, Juan Carlos Lomónaco, dir. Mauricio Náder, pf. Foro Internacional de Música Nueva
Orquesta
I. La llamarada; II. Primigenio; III. Metamorfosis de la angustia; IV. Cósmico
Obra dedicada a Flaviano Coral (1928-2018)
I. El caos; II. La primera pareja; III. La colectividad ritual; IV. La disputa; V. El espíritu de la noche; VI. Rito del resurgimiento
Estreno: 3 de marzo de 2011-06. Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional.. 33° Foro Internacional de Música Nueva
I. La hidra; II. Las arpías; III. Las sirenas; IV. El minotauro
Estreno. Orquesta Sinfónica de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Félix Carrasco, dir.
Premio Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de México
I. El alba; II. Hechiceros; III. Procesión; IV. Baile
Estreno: 2007. Orquesta Filarmónica de la Ciudad de México, Jesús Medina, dir.
Obra triunfadora del Premio del Sistema de Fomento Musical
I. Preludio; II. Scherzo; III. Andante spressivo; IV. Allegro con brio
Coro y orquesta
I. Huitzilpoztli II. Quetzalcoátl III. Tezcatlipoca IV. Xochiquétzal V. Tláloc VI. Coatlicue.
El coro interviene en el movimiento Vi. Coatlicue. Compuesta con el apoyo del SNCA FONCA.