The Mexican Embassy in Jordan held its official celebration of the 216th anniversary of Mexican independence at the historic Odeon Theatre in Amman, marking the occasion with an evening of Mexican music performed by mezzo-soprano María Luisa Tamez and concert pianist Armando Merino, both prominent artists affiliated with the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature.
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The reception was attended by members of the Jordanian royal family, including Princess Basma bint Talal and Princess Wijdan Al-Hashemi, as well as Dr. Nancy Namrouqa, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, representing the Jordanian government. Senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Jordan, business representatives, university academics, journalists, members of the Mexican community, and friends of Mexico in Jordan were also present.
Mexican Ambassador to Jordan Jacobo Prado presided over the Grito de Independencia ceremony, during which children from the Mexican community in Amman presented the national flag to the ambassador.
The Grito de Independencia, or Cry of Independence, marks the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence. In the early hours of 16 September 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla called on the people of Dolores to rise against colonial rule, launching the independence movement with his historic call to arms.
Each year, on the eve of Independence Day, Mexicans around the world gather to commemorate that historic moment and honour those who gave their lives for Mexico's freedom. The ceremony is held across Mexico and at Mexican diplomatic and consular missions worldwide.
This year, the embassy marked the occasion with a concert by celebrated Mexican mezzo-soprano María Luisa Tamez, accompanied by concert pianist Armando Merino.
Born in Mexico City into a family of professional singers, Tamez is among Mexico's foremost opera singers, with a career spanning more than 45 years. She has performed at major theatres and concert halls across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, and has worked with some of the world's most distinguished orchestras and ensembles. After three decades as a lyric-spinto and dramatic soprano, she made a notable artistic transition to mezzo-soprano roles; the role of Carmen became one of her most celebrated and closely associated performances, which she has sung more than 100 times. In 2025, she received the Medalla Bellas Artes in music, Mexico's highest cultural honour, in recognition of her distinguished career and contributions to Mexican opera.
Tamez was accompanied by concert pianist Armando Merino, also born in Mexico City, who is regarded as one of Mexico's most active and prominent concert pianists. Throughout his career he has performed as a soloist, with orchestras, as an accompanist to leading singers, and in chamber music ensembles in Mexico, the United States, and France.
Merino holds degrees from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and from the Manhattan School of Music. He is currently a full-time professor at the Faculty of Music of UNAM and a member of the Concert Artists Group of the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL).
His commitment to Mexican music is reflected in his critically praised recordings, which include world-premiere recordings of works by several of Mexico's most important composers.
The artists' participation lent the celebration a high musical distinction and offered Amman audiences an opportunity to experience the richness of Mexico's musical heritage through a programme that drew on both its popular and classical traditions.
The embassy said the event reflects its commitment to strengthening the longstanding bonds of friendship and understanding between Mexico and Jordan, promoting cultural exchange, and advancing awareness and appreciation of Mexico's history, heritage, arts, and cultural identity.
This article was originally written in Arabic by Al Ghad for Al Ghad. It was translated into English with AI assistance and edited by Jordan News.
