With more than 70 concerts, the Musical Fortnight will return to Donostia between August 2 and 27 on different stages with special force, as always, in the Kursaal and the Victoria Eugenia Theatre. This 83rd edition will bet especially on symphonic-choral shows, whose presence had been reduced due to the pandemic. After revealing the complete program tickets fly. Full schedule here.
As was announced at the time, the inauguration promises to be tremendous with one of the most prestigious tandems in British music: the one formed by Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists. Led by its founder, John Eliot Gardinera referential figure in the performance of early music, will perform religious works by Carissimi, Scarlatti and Schütz.
The Euskal Herriko Gazte Orkestra (EGO) will celebrate his 25th anniversary within the program with Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 and it will be reinforced by its Canarian equivalent, the Young Orchestra of the Canary Islands (JOCAN), and by the white voices of the Orfeón Donostiarra and the Orfeoi Gazte. The mezzo-soprano from San Sebastian Carmen Artaza will also participate and the concert will be directed by Víctor Pablo Pérez.
Anniversary of Pablo Sorozabal
within the anniversary Pablo Sorozábal, the 125th anniversary since its birth, the popular zarzuela La tabernera del puerto will be performed in a concert version. The cast will be led by two Basque lyrical singers with solid international projection: the soprano Look Urbieta-Vegawho will play Marola, and Andeka Gorrotxategi like Leandro. The Bilbao Symphony Orchestra, which turns 100 in 2022, will be in charge of the pit, in this unique function in which the Landarbaso Abesbatza choir from Errenteria will also participate.
Opera
After two years of absence due to the pandemic, at the gates of the Big Week festivities it will return to the festival’s programming the opera performedwith performances on August 12 and 14: La Fille du Régiment by Gaetano Donizetti.
The devilish vocal writing of the Italian composer will test two young singers from San Sebastian of international renown who debut in their respective roles: the tenor Xavier Anduagawinner of the prestigious Operalia award in 2019, and the soprano Elena Sancho-Perega specialist in Donizetti who a few weeks ago played the role of Adina from El elixir de amor at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein.
The Euskadiko Orkestra and the Easo Choir, directed by Lucas Macías, will provide the musical base.
This will not be the last date with opera in the Kursaal programme, since on August 20, Euskadiko Orkestra and Andra Mari Abesbatza will approach the music of George Gershwin through his two most popular works: the famous Rhapsody in Blue and the opera Porgy & Besswith a selection of his best-known choirs and arias in the voices of soprano Indira Mahajan and baritone Eric Greene.
great orchestras
Starting on August 21st, international orchestras will be included in the festival’s programming. On the same day, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, one of the best German orchestras. And on August 23, the Fortnight will receive the visit of one of the most outstanding names within the new generation of directors who cultivate this repertoire. It is about the harpsichordist and conductor Václav Luks, who arrives at the Fortnight together with the two groups with which he is conquering half of Europe: the Collegium Baroque Orchestra 1704 Y Collegium Vocale 1704.
One of the most valued orchestras in the world, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestrareturns to the Musical Fortnight at the hands of its owner Semyon Bychkov.
Dance and a fairy tale
The dance company invited this year is the Andalusian Flamenco Balletwhich on Wednesday August 17 will present a new production of El Maleficio de la Mariposa, which marked Federico García Lorca’s debut on stage 100 years ago and was received with great controversy.
The third proposal of the Musical Fortnight for the Victoria Eugenia will be on August 8 and will be carried out by the children of the Choir Easo, Easo Gazte Abesbatza and the Escolanía Aila de Laredo. With the musical direction of Gorka Miranda and the artistic direction of Mafalda Saloio and Marta García, this group of young singers has shaped the show Itsasotik, based on Les chants de la mer by composer R. Calmel and which tells the story of a girl who loves the sea who is swallowed by a fish and is transported to a sad and gray city. The soprano Lorea López and the tiple Manex Artola will give life to the two main characters of this unforgettable fairy tale.
so many quotes
In addition to what has been said, the Musical Fortnight will maintain its specialized cycles: organ, early music, contemporary music, chamber music and young performers. And it will also keep Walking Fortnight with 16 concerts outside of San Sebastian.
Also, after two years of hiatus due to the pandemic, the #ConversanDO initiative, aimed at those people who, without considering themselves lovers of classical music, want to take their first steps in the Fortnight. In this edition you can choose between opera, concerts featuring large orchestras at the Kursaal and even contemporary dance proposals at Tabakalera. In small groups, the participants in this activity will receive a brief explanation before the concert about what they are going to enjoy next and, at the end of the function, they will meet again to share their experience. Those who want to participate in this initiative and immerse themselves in the Fortnight experience for the first time can register on our website: www.quincenamusical.eus/conversando. All the information here.
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