Basque National Orchestra is Gramophone's ‘Orchestra of the Month’
The prestigious classical music magazine has singled out the Basque National Orchestra in its January issue, awarding it a recognition that no other Spanish orchestra had received until now.
After the excellent reviews received by the Ravel and Americascapes albums, the Basque National Orchestra has been highlighted as ‘Orchestra of the Month’ in the January 2022 issue of the prestigious classical music magazine Gramophone. In his review, Andrew Mellor writes that "…an ensemble like the Basque National Orchestra exists for more than the provision of fine concerts”, referring to its quality as a national orchestra committed to the dissemination and promotion of Basque culture, and continues: “whatever its musical DNA, it is a modern, versatile ensemble". The Basque National Orchestra thus becomes the first Spanish ensemble to achieve this recognition.
The publication praises the display of effort and resources by the Basque National Orchestra, offering many concerts within the extensive region it owes itself to and where it has a faithful audience, as well as its work recording and disseminating Basque music. It also points out that the Basque National Orchestra was ‘one of the first European orchestras to seek solutions in order to return to the stage during the pandemic’.
In addition, this recognition as ‘Orchestra of the Month’ takes place within the context of the recent release of two internationally-acclaimed albums recorded under the direction of Robert Trevino and through the Ondine label. The first of them was Ravel, which received numerous accolades in prestigious publications: 'Disque du jour' by Radio France Musique; 'Critic's Choice' by Japanese magazine Record Geijutsu; ‘Recording Of The Month’ by Australia's leading arts magazine Limelight; ‘Recording Of The Week’ by Australia's ABC Classic (radio) and Apple Music's 'Best New Classical Releases'. Recent weeks have seen a surge of equally enthusiastic reviews for Americascapes. The album, dedicated to neglected American authors whose works were selected by Robert Trevino, has been named 'Editor's Choice’ and ‘Urgently recommended’ by Gramophone, a 'Recording Of The Year' by Presto Music, 'Editor's Choice' by Limelight, and given five stars by Classics Today. The New Yorker called it "superb", while MusicWeb International wrote, "Simply one of the best and most unique classical CDs of 2021”.
In the words of Robert Trevino, music director of the Basque National Orchestra: "To be named as an 'Editor's Choice' in Gramophone is a great honour, but for the orchestra then to be further recognised is truly wonderful. This is an orchestra that means a great deal to a proud nation, and further more they are a fantastic group of people whom I am privileged to call my musical family. These last two albums have shown that relationship at its strongest, in fact. And with Americascapes I, as an American, brought them important, if little-known, music of my own homeland. Ravel is in the BNO's blood and I have learnt so much about him from them, over our years together. I am also glad to announce that, after a successful first volume, we have completed the recording sessions for a second collection of orchestral works by Ravel, and I know that I speak for the whole orchestra when I say that I can't wait to share these performances with listeners.
On the other hand, Oriol Roch, General Manager of the Basque National Orchestra, said: "Orchestras in Spain quite rarely have the international spotlight shone upon them, so we do not take the honour of the wonderful recognition in Gramophone and elsewhere lightly. It makes us all the more inspired and determined - even in tough times like these - to represent the Basque Country to the world, through playing great music as well as we possibly can!".
