"Haydn ... a lifetime of music", featured in "Concerts for Schools" and "Family Concerts"

As part of the activities organised for the Music Room, this season the Basque National Orchestra has set in motion a new educational initiative: Concerts for Schools. Before bringing their classes to the concert, the teachers who have signed up for the activity first take part in a workshop held at the Orchestra headquarters. The teachers then work with their students in the classroom using the educational materials specifically designed by the OSE Education Department. The activity then concludes with a concert. This experience has proven to be a highly effective educational tool.

"Haydn ... a lifetime of music" is the first show in the new Concerts for Schools series. The concert is geared for students in upper primary school and lower secondary school, and provides a glimpse into the world of classical music through the long and productive career of Franz Joseph Haydn (1732 -1809).

Actors from the ORTZAI theatre group play the role of Joseph Haydn at different stages of his life. Using this theatrical device as a vehicle, the actors explain various aspects of the composer's life, including the solid friendship he enjoyed with Mozart and how he served as mentor to the young Beethoven, both of whom are also featured in the concert. The repertoire includes works by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. The show is based on a script written by Mikel Cañada, coordinator of the Basque National Orchestra Education Department.

The concert features the BNO in its traditional classical setting, conducted by Irun-born Iker Sánchez, as well as pianist Natalia González, cellist Fermín Villanueva and members of the Ortzai theatre lab in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

A total of 1750 students from schools in Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia will take part in the first edition of the Concerts for Schools events, developed in collaboration with the Donostia-San Sebastián Office on Education. The audience will include children from Bilbao, Donostia-San Sebastián, Errenteria, Beasain, Ordizia, Zizurkil, Altzo, Mutriku, Ataun, Andoain, Urretxu, Zumarraga and Aduna.

"Haydn ... a lifetime of music" will also be performed for audiences of all ages as part of the Basque National Orchestra's "Family Concert" series. On Friday, March 26, "Haydn ... a lifetime of music" will be presented at 7:00 pm at the Teatro Principal in Vitoria-Gasteiz, and again on Saturday, March 27, at 6:00 pm at the Orchestra's Miramón headquarters in Donostia-San Sebastián. Tickets to both events are available through the regular outlets.
Children will be invited to attend a pre-concert workshop aims at heightening their concert experience. The workshop will include listening, song and movement-based activities. The workshops are voluntary, free of charge and open to anyone with a ticket to the concert that follows. Space is limited so booking is required for the workshops.

Programme
1- HAYDN, Joseph: Symphony No. 104. D Major, London: I.- Adagio - Allegro
2- HAYDN, Joseph: Symphony No. 101. D Major, The Clock II.- Andante
3- HAYDN, Joseph: Symphony No. 94. G Major, Surprise II.- Andante
4- HAYDN, Joseph: Concerto No. 1 for Cello and Orchestra HOB VIIb, in C Major: III. Finale: Allegro molto
5- MOZART, Wolfgang Amadeus: A Little Night Music, KV 525: I.- Allegro
6- BEETHOVEN, Ludwig Van: Sonata No. 23 for Piano, Op 57. F Minor, Appassionata, (fragment)
7- BEETHOVEN, Ludwig Van: Concert No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra. Op 19, B flat major: II.- Adagio
8- HAYDN, Joseph: Symphony No. 45 in F sharp minor, The Farewell Symphony I.- Allegro assai, IV.- Finale: Presto - Adagio

Cast
• Performers: Basque National Orchestra, classical formation Natalia González (piano), Fermín Villanueva (violoncello)
• Conductor: Iker Sánchez
• Idea and script: Mikel Cañada, Education Department
• Theatre group: Laboratorio de Teatro Ortzai Antzerki Eskola (Teresa Ibáñez, Iker Ortiz de Zarate, Álvaro Salazar de Guréndez, Adrián González Rabanal)

CONCERTS FOR SCHOOLS
March 23, 24 and 25
Auditorium, Basque National Orchestra headquarters, Miramon Pasealekua, 124. Donostia
10:00 and 12:00

FAMILY CONCERT
March 26: Teatro Principal, Vitoria-Gasteiz. 7:00 pm. Pre-concert workshop, 5:45 pm.
March 27: Basque National Orchestra Headquarters. Pre-concert workshop, 4:45 pm.