Between Baton and Ballet: Conductor Felipe Tristán Reflects on Art, Emotion, and Romeo & Juliet
- WOMCO
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
American conductor Felipe Tristán earned the Grand Prize at the Vivaldi International Music Competition, 2025 Season 3, in recognition of his compelling conducting of Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet with Ballet de Monterrey (Mexico). The competition took place from June 19 to September 19, 2025, with results announced on October 8, 2025.
In the following interview, Felipe shares the inspiration behind his award-winning performance, his approach to conducting Prokofiev’s iconic ballet score, his collaboration with Ballet de Monterrey, and his broader reflections on the role of a conductor in today’s digital era. He also talks about his musical journey, future goals, and the importance of fostering artistic connection through music.
Could you share the background of your award-winning conducting performance of Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet, including when and where it took place and the context of the performance?
Felipe Tristán:
"The conducting video of Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet that received recognition comes from a full staged production with Ballet de Monterrey in Mexico, where I serve as Principal Conductor. This performance took place at the Teatro de la Ciudad in Monterrey, one of the country’s most important cultural venues, during our 2024–2025 season. It was a large scale production that required close coordination between the orchestra, dancers, and production team. The performance represented an opportunity to explore Prokofiev’s powerful score through the lens of dance, emphasizing the fusion between orchestral color and physical storytelling. It was especially meaningful because of the artistic chemistry within the company and the commitment of every musician and dancer involved."
Could you please talk to us about your interpretation of Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet as the conductor? How did you approach the piece, and what did you hope the audience would experience?
Felipe Tristán:
"When approaching Romeo & Juliet, my focus was to treat Prokofiev’s score not simply as accompaniment but as an essential dramatic force that breathes with the dancers. The music is full of tension, lyricism, and irony, and I wanted to highlight its theatrical power while maintaining a deep emotional connection. I worked to create an interpretation that felt organic and flexible, allowing the phrasing and pacing to respond naturally to the choreography. My goal was for the audience to experience the music as a living character in the story, one that mirrors love, conflict, and tragedy. I paid particular attention to inner orchestral colors, balance between rhythmic drive and melodic warmth, and the overall dramatic pacing of the evening. I hoped the listeners would feel drawn into the emotional journey of the characters and experience the inevitability of their fate through the music itself."
Could you talk to us about your collaboration with the Mexico Ballet de Monterrey, and share any memorable moments from the rehearsals?
Felipe Tristán:
"Working with Ballet de Monterrey is one of the most fulfilling aspects of my career. Over the years we have built a close artistic understanding between the orchestra, dancers, and creative teams. In Romeo & Juliet, that collaboration was evident from the first rehearsal. I remember one particularly memorable session during the balcony scene when we spent considerable time adjusting the timing of a horn entrance to synchronize perfectly with a new gesture in the choreography. These kinds of moments, where the music and movement breathe as one, are among the most rewarding in ballet conducting. Behind the scenes there was a sense of unity among musicians, stage crew, and dancers that carried through to the performances."
Could you talk to us about yourself, your journey in music, and your future goals? Could you also share your perspective on what defines a great conductor in today’s digital age, and what you consider to be the most significant artistic or professional challenges facing conductor today and in the coming years?
Felipe Tristán:
"I was born in Monterrey, Mexico, and began my musical training there before continuing my studies in the United States and Europe. I graduated cum laude from the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana in Switzerland, and my career has since developed internationally. I currently serve as Principal Conductor of Ballet de Monterrey, Artistic Director of the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra in New York, and Associate Conductor of the San Antonio Philharmonic. My work spans symphonic, operatic, and ballet repertoire, and I am passionate about connecting classical music with broader audiences and diverse cultures.
In today’s digital era I believe that a great conductor must combine artistic vision with emotional intelligence and adaptability. Beyond mastering the score and technique, a conductor must inspire trust, communicate clearly, and cultivate a shared sense of purpose within the ensemble. The role also extends beyond the podium. Conductors today are educators, curators, and cultural leaders who must engage audiences not only in the concert hall but also through digital media and community initiatives.
The greatest challenges conductors face now include developing new audiences for classical music, ensuring financial sustainability for orchestras, and balancing the preservation of tradition with the inclusion of contemporary and diverse voices. We must also embrace technology as a tool for outreach without losing the irreplaceable intimacy of live performance.
My future goals include commissioning new works for ballet and orchestra, expanding my international collaborations, and deepening my work in educational and community oriented projects. I hope to continue bridging classical music with other art forms and to foster artistic exchanges that cross borders and disciplines."
Would you like to share your experience participating in our competition and thank anyone?
Felipe Tristán:
"Participating in your competition was a rewarding experience that allowed me to reflect deeply on my artistic approach and to share my work with a wider audience. I am sincerely grateful to the musicians, dancers, and production team who collaborated on the recording, as well as to my mentors, colleagues, and family for their constant support. I also wish to thank the WOMCO team and jury for providing such a meaningful platform for artists to share their work. This recognition is both an encouragement and an inspiration to continue striving for excellence and connection through music."
Biography
Felipe Tristán stands among the most distinguished Mexican conductors of his generation, acclaimed for a career that spans the Americas, Europe, and Asia and for performances that blend artistry, innovation, and purpose. Recognized for his versatility across symphonic, operatic & ballet repertoire, Tristán has built an international reputation for musical excellence and artistic leadership. He currently serves as Artistic Director of the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra, Associate Conductor of the San Antonio Philharmonic, Principal Conductor of Ballet de Monterrey, and Conductor at the Manhattan School of Music.
In 2024, he made history as the first Mexican conductor to receive the Muzyczne Orły Award from Poland’s Ministry of Culture and National Heritage for Best Recording, honoring his album Flute Concertos – Penderecki & Reinecke with the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, released on the prestigious Hänssler Classic label. That same year, he completed a residency with the San Francisco Ballet, returned as guest conductor to the iconic MET Gala in New York under the artistic direction of Anna Wintour and Baz Luhrmann, and appeared in the Disney+ documentary In Vogue: The 90s, which features his preparation process for the event.
Following his acclaimed Carnegie Hall debut in 2016, Tristán has led orchestras around the world, including the San Antonio Philharmonic, Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie Konstanz, Orchestra Filarmonica della Calabria, Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, Zhengzhou Symphony Orchestra, as well as numerous orchestras and ballets across his native Mexico. Under his leadership, the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra has toured internationally to Mérida (2024) and Mexico City (2020). Recently, he made his Vienna debut conducting the Prague Philharmonic at the historic Hofburg Imperial Palace in a gala concert attended by Archduchess Alice and Archduke Thaddeus Habsburg-Lorraine of Austria, adding to the historic significance of the occasion.
Passionate about contemporary, popular, and genre-spanning music, his recent projects with GRAMMY®-winning institutions such as Belongó Afro Latin Jazz have brought him to collaborate with Carnegie Hall Citywide, Lincoln Center, and the New York Philharmonic Bandwagon series and Día de los Muertos showcases. In 2024, he also produced the album Schubert – Works for Flute & Strings, featuring musicians from the Met Orchestra. Additionally, Tristán is Principal Conductor of the Texas New Music Festival in Houston in the summers, where he has led over 30 world premieres and mentors emerging composers and conductors.
His artistic vision combines the classical canon with innovation, building bridges between tradition and contemporary creation. His leadership has been profiled in FORBES Working Journal by Michael Fiedler, and he has appeared as a featured speaker at TEDx Zhengzhou.
Winner of First Prize at the Klangkraft Orchester Dirigierwettbewerbs (Germany) and First Prize at the International Conductors Workshop & Competition (Atlanta), Tristán holds postgraduate studies from the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana – where he graduated cum laude with the highest honors – alongside studies at the University of Houston, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, the Escuela Superior de Música y Danza de Monterrey, advanced conducting courses at the Juilliard School Extension, and an executive certificate in Leadership Principles from Harvard Business School Online.
Highlights of the 2025-2026 season include Verdi’s La Traviata, two productions of The Nutcracker in San Antonio and North Carolina, Giselle with Ballet de Monterrey, Juan Gabriel: A Philharmonic Tribute, as well as a Tour of Austria and Hungary with the Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra, and debuts with the Sofia Philharmonic and North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra at Prague’s Smetana Hall, and his return engagement with the Orchestra Filarmonica della Calabria in Italy.