Tuesday 19 September, 2023

The Basque National Orchestra renews its official photo

The photography session was carried out by Álex Abril in August at the Jorge Oteiza Pelota Courts in Azkoitia.

The image also means the launch and presentation of the new attire that the orchestra musicians will wear from now on, designed and made by the Basque clothing firm Amarenak.

Coinciding with the start of the new 23/24 Season, the Basque National Orchestra is presenting its new official photo with the full orchestra. The photograph was taken by Álex Abril in the Jorge Oteiza Pelota Courts in Azkoitia, and is part of a series of images of the full orchestra and with other smaller ensembles comprised of the orchestra's musicians (see below).

This new official image has been prepared with the intention of representing the orchestra in a wide variety of contexts: the orchestra’s publications and website, media, concert seasons, festivals (Musical Fortnight, ABAO, etc.), national and international tours, etc.

Combining Oteiza's ideas with the 'pelota' tradition of Azkoitia, the pelota court complex that has been used as a setting for the orchestra was directly inspired by Oteiza himself, and designed by architect Carlos Ceballos and sculptor Antton Mendizabal. It consists of seven pelota courts that symbolise the seven Historical Territories of the Basque Country, and they are in turn linked to the different modalities of playing pelota. It is a place that combines tradition and modernity, perfectly capturing the essence of Basque culture and aligned with the character and nature of the Basque National Orchestra.

New attire for the Basque National Orchestra musicians

The image we share today also means the launch and presentation of the new attire that the orchestra musicians will wear from now on, devised and made by the Basque clothing firm Amarenak. The design was made expressly for our orchestra with the aim of modernising the musicians’ attire and progressing from the tailcoat to a more modern, comfortable and elegant outfit.

A minimalist design was chosen, where everything superfluous and bothersome was eliminated, but maintaining a traditional black and white aesthetic, albeit renewed, modern and universal. Innovative fabrics were chosen, such as recycled polyester, which also provides comfort and practicality to the musicians in their daily movements.