The new album by Kalakan and the Basque National Orchestra is out now, right before a concert tour
The album, which includes twelve traditional Basque songs recorded under the Elkar label, has been released today, 18 October, and is available in all main retailers and on digital platforms.
To present the album, both Basque ensembles have organised five concerts in Pamplona, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Bilbao, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Donostia/San Sebastian from 20 October to 5 November. Tickets for all the concerts are now on sale at a price of between 10 and 26 euros.
This project is presented within the framework of the ‘KlasikAT’ initiative, through which the Basque National Orchestra carries out musical production that goes beyond the boundaries of the more typical repertoires
Kalakan and the Basque National Orchestra started rehearsing in Miramon in late April, with the aim of preparing an album and a series of concerts. The recording sessions were carried out during the following months, separately, and then during the summer months the production work was carried out in the studio. Now this recording is ready, released under the Elkar label, and starting today, 18 October, it can be purchased at all main retailers (for €18.50) and on digital platforms. The album will also be presented at Durangoko Azoka, which will be held in December.
Kalakan and the Basque National Orchestra have organised five concerts to present the album's tracks: on 20 October at the Baluarte Auditorium in Pamplona (19:30); on 21 October at the Principal Theatre in Vitoria (19:30); on 22 October at the Arriaga Theatre in Bilbao (19:30); on 23 October at Jai Alai in Saint-Jean-de-Luz (20:00); and on 5 November at the Kursaal Auditorium in San Sebastian (19:30). Tickets for all the concerts are on sale at a price of between 10 and 26 euros on the website euskadikoorkestra.eus, as well as on the websites and at the ticket offices of the different venues. The album can also be purchased at the concerts.
A project based on traditional Basque music
The central theme of this new project involving collaboration between the Basque National Orchestra and Kalakan is traditional Basque music. The main aim of the project is to merge Kalakan’s efforts to breathe new life into Basque folklore with the classical world.
The composer Jagoba Astiazaran has taken on the task of translating several songs previously published by the trio into orchestral language, including Iruten ari nuzu and Kantuz, both well-known Basque songs. Several of the traditional instruments that the Kalakan group uses habitually play a major role in the album. These include the txalaparta, the txirula and the alboka, all instruments that have been combined with the rest of the instrumental sections of the orchestra.
In addition, several lyrics by bertsolaris (traditional Basque singers) Xaldador and Bilintx are included in the recording, in pieces that have been created expressly for this project, as well as a completely different version of Txoria Txori by Mikel Laboa and Joxean Artze.
The songs on the album
- KLKN
- Andria alargune
- Iruten ari nuzu
- Rebeleon
- Loriak udan
- Bereterretxeren Kantorea
- Ikusten duzu goizean
- Montebideoko berriak
- Egun bakea zutaz
- Txoria Txori
- Belatzarenak
- Kantuz / Sagarra jo
At the concerts, in addition to the songs on the album, Kalakan and the Basque National Orchestra will offer several surprises.
Concerts
- Wednesday 20 October (19:30), Pamplona, Baluarte.
- Thursday 21 October (19:30), Vitoria, Principal.
- Friday 22 October (19:30), Bilbao, Arriaga.
- Saturday 23 October (20:00), Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Jai Alai.
- Friday 5 November (19:30), San Sebastian, Kursaal.
Prices
- Pamplona: 18 - €25
- Vitoria: 18 - €25
- Bilbao: 10 - €25
- Saint-Jean-de-Luz: 10 - €26
- San Sebastian: 18 - €25
With regard to the above prices, season ticket holders can benefit from a discount of up to 25% on tickets, with the exception of those for Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
KlasikAT: Kalakan takes the leap into the symphonic world
In this project, which includes both an album and concerts to present it, the trio formed by Jamixel Bereau, Xan Errotabehere and Bixente Etchegaray has taken the leap into the symphonic world in the company of the Basque National Orchestra and under the direction of Juanjo Ocón. The arrangements for the orchestra of the twelve traditional Basque songs included in the recording were carried out by Jagoba Astiazaran.
The project is presented under the umbrella of the KlasikAT initiative. Within this framework, for more than two decades the Basque National Orchestra has made a clear commitment to tackling musical genres beyond the boundaries of the typical orchestra repertoires. The artists who do not belong to the symphonic field with which the orchestra has collaborated include Benito Lertxundi, Golden Apple Quartet, Michel Camilo, Emilio Aragón, Kepa Junkera, Mike Oldfield, Ken Zazpi, Dr. Deseo, Zea Mays, Huntza and Izaro.
