Enrique Bátiz is a Mexican conductor and pianist, who has in his long career conducted the Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México (OSEM) or State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra (which he founded), and the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra. Before that, he had studied piano and conducting at New York’s Juilliard School of Music. Bátiz competed in the Warsaw Chopin Competition, and toured with orchestras in Poland, and solo recitals in Belgium in the 1960s.
He’s recorded the complete symphonies of Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Schumann, and all the orchestra music written by Rodrigo, Ponce and Bizet. His 145 recordings feature the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Symphony, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as his Mexican ensembles.
His recording of Saint-Saëns’ Third Symphony in 1984 was considered by Gramophone and the Penguin Stereo Records Guide as the best recorded version of the piece, and The London Sunday Times called his 1986 recording of Petrushka by Stravinsky the Recording of the Year.
Bátiz has been declared “Mexiquense Destacado” or “Outstanding Mexican” by the State of Mexico for his contributions to the culture of the country.
Concierto is made possible by Wells Fargo Private Bank, a contributor to WDAV’s Programming Fund.