Music Room

The new Musika Gela season from Basque National Orchestra aims to assert itself. To celebrate the legacy of Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga via ‘Arriaga bizi da’, which invites families to discover the fascinating figure of the Bilbao-born composer; to reclaim women’s creative productions by performing works by many female composers who have been forgotten, not due to the quality of their music, but because they were women: *Aniztasuna harmonian*, directed by Bilbao-born Maite Aurrekoetxea, and *Mozart, Nannerl eta Lagunak*, which recounts the story of Maria Anna Mozart alongside that of her famous brother.

And to defend comprehensive accessibility to our work. The third edition of the children’s cantata *Logelan logale* introduces a new feature in the form of a performance open to children with hearing impairments, as well as the inclusion of 16 young people who will sing using sign language alongside the pilot choir. ‘Arriaga bizi da’ will be presented to the public as a relaxed performance in a format that was launched two seasons ago and is here to stay. These relaxed sessions are ideal for an inclusive experience in which all the families share the stalls, both those with and without members with disabilities. Furthermore, these sessions are adapted to suit different sensory needs and the usual protocol is relaxed so that everyone feels more at ease with the format.

And lastly, ‘Brassstorm’, a concert for wind instruments performed by a wind quintet from the Basque National Orchestra, which aims to connect with young people by drawing on their concerns and experiences, and by analysing how society and trends influence the formation of our identity and our tastes. The three ‘S’s in the title of this concert refer to three aspects of our lives: Society, Sound, Success.

The season is rounded off with the third edition of Musikazaleak, organised in collaboration with FEVAS– Plena Inclusión Euskadi, which fosters musical activity and cultural participation amongst people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, as well as the now traditional Open Rehearsals, which bring the orchestra’s day-to-day work to schools and community groups.

Advocacy, inclusion, equality, participation, discovery and excitement are once again the key to a programme intended to make music a shareable and accessible experience for everyone.