Double performance from the Basque National Orchestra at the Auditorium of Bordeaux

The Basque National Orchestra travelled to Bordeaux, where it gave concerts (12th and 13th January) at the Auditorium in the Aquitaine capital. In a new musical exchange with the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine (ONBA), the Orchestra performed as a guest in the season of the Bordeaux Orchestra.

Under the guidance of conductor Jun Märkl, the Orchestra travelled to Bordeaux accompanied by the pianist Javier Perianes. They performed Piano Concerto No. 2 by Camille Saint-Saëns for the first time, as Javier Perianes has added it to the Orchestra's repertoire this season. Regarding this, the pianist has said the following: "I am very happy with the balance of my work and the way things are progressing. [...] There's a logic to the works that I have chosen to include in my repertoire, which was naturally created from pieces that I have played on countless occasions in the past. For example, it makes sense to perform Saint-Saëns' Concerto No. 2 after the experience I gained from performing his Concerto No. 5."

Before these concerts in Bordeaux, the Basque National Orchestra and Javier Perianes have shared the stage at the Kursaal Auditorium last April, at the gala for the International Classic Music Awards (ICMA), and at the Musical Fortnight 2008.

More Saint-Saëns and two of Debussy's Images complete the programme. The Orchestra playing without the accompaniment of Javier Perianes, presented the audience with two more pieces from the French repertoire, of which Märkl is a great connoisseur. The evening opened with Saint-Saëns' Suite algérienne, and two of Claude Debussy's Images were played in the second part: Rondes de printemps and Ibéria.

The relationship between the Basque National Orchestra and the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine has become a classic and the musical exchange between the two is now a regular occurrence. In line with the Basque National Orchestra's visit to Bordeaux from 17 to 22 June, the ONBA will close our season in the usual four major cities, lead by the conductor Paul Daniel and with the violinist Vadim Gluzman as guest soloist.