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.