Enrique Batiz
Classical Music Conductor, Pianist, Mexico.
Award Motivation
For his role as conductor of the famous world orchestras and promoting music education for the young.
Award details
Enrique Batiz was born in Mexico City on May 4, 1942. His interest in music began at an early age and he went on to study at the prestigious Julliard School. He achieved success as a pianist, before debuting as a conductor in 1969. In 1971, under his initiative and in conjunction with the government of the Mexico State, the Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México (OSEM) was founded, with the purpose of spreading music as an art as a means of creating union and identity among the citizens of the state.
He was the conductor of the State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra for 12 years (1971 – 1983), then of the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra for 7 years (1983 – 1989) and resumed directorship of the OSEM from 1990 to the present. Since 1984, he was named “guest conductor” of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and as an invited guest conductor, he has led more than 500 symphony orchestras around the world.
His work is represented with a collection of 145 recordings of which 41 are with the Royal Philharmonic, 9 with the London Symphony, 3 with the Philharmonia, 12 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, 2 with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, 19 with the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra, 58 with the State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra, and 1 with the Toscana Orchestra in Florence, Italy, for the British record companies EMI Records International, Academy of Sound and Vision, Musical Heritage (USA), NAXOS, IMG International Management Group, Pickwick, RPO Records and Arts (German company). The repertory of Enrique Batiz as a conductor ranges from classical to contemporary works. He has been described as an artist who conducts with vehemence and enthusiasm, manifesting a deep understanding, unusual even among the finest conductors.