Musika Gela 26/27 by the Basque National Orchestra defends access to culture

The new Musika Gela season from Basque National Orchestra aims to assert itself. To celebrate the legacy of Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga via ‘Arriaga bizi da’, which invites families to discover the fascinating figure of the Bilbao-born composer; to reclaim women’s creative productions by performing works by many female composers who have been forgotten, not due to the quality of their music, but because they were women: *Aniztasuna harmonian*, directed by Bilbao-born Maite Aurrekoetxea, and *Mozart, Nannerl eta Lagunak*, which recounts the story of Maria Anna Mozart alongside that of her famous brother.

And to defend comprehensive accessibility to our work. The third edition of the children’s cantata *Logelan logale* introduces a new feature in the form of a performance open to children with hearing impairments, as well as the inclusion of 16 young people who will sing using sign language alongside the pilot choir. ‘Arriaga bizi da’ will be presented to the public as a relaxed performance in a format that was launched two seasons ago and is here to stay. These relaxed sessions are ideal for an inclusive experience in which all the families share the stalls, both those with and without members with disabilities. Furthermore, these sessions are adapted to suit different sensory needs and the usual protocol is relaxed so that everyone feels more at ease with the format.

And lastly, ‘Brassstorm’, a concert for wind instruments performed by a wind quintet from the Basque National Orchestra, which aims to connect with young people by drawing on their concerns and experiences, and by analysing how society and trends influence the formation of our identity and our tastes. The three ‘S’s in the title of this concert refer to three aspects of our lives: Society, Sound, Success.

The season is rounded off with the third edition of Musikazaleak, organised in collaboration with FEVAS– Plena Inclusión Euskadi, which fosters musical activity and cultural participation amongst people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, as well as the now traditional Open Rehearsals, which bring the orchestra’s day-to-day work to schools and community groups.

Advocacy, inclusion, equality, participation, discovery and excitement are once again the key to a programme intended to make music a shareable and accessible experience for everyone.

PROGRAMMING OF THE CYCLE

Five in-house productions

Year after year, the Basque National Orchestra has committed to producing its own productions with original scripts and shows created expressly to be premiered as part of its educational cycle. This new cycle has five in-house productions: Arriaga bizi da; Logelan logale; Aniztasuna harmonian; Mozart, Nannerl eta lagunak; and Brassstorm.

These five productions will be presented in San Sebastian and Vitoria in the format of Concerts for Schools and Family Concerts.

On the one hand, it is expected that over the course of the entire Season some 7.000 infant, primary and secondary school students will attend the Concerts for Schoolchildren of these productions. These are pupils from dozens of schools in towns such as Astigarraga, Elgoibar, Ezkio-Itsaso, Lazkao, Orio, Zarautz and Zestoa, amongst others. The Concerts for Schoolchildren currently enjoy the collaboration of the General Council of Gipuzkoa, the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, the Education Department of the City Council of San Sebastian, Kursaal Eszena and the City Council of Vitoria-Gasteiz.

And on the other, these productions will take place in the Family Concerts format, a cycle that has been running now for 30 years. The San Sebastian Family Concerts are sponsored by El Diario Vasco, and the concert scheduled for the Kursaal, Brassstorm, has also been organised in conjunction with Kursaal Eszena. The concerts in the capital of Alava enjoy the collaboration of Municipal Theatre Network of Vitoria-Gasteiz. Tickets for these shows, priced between 3 and 8 euros, may be purchased via the website euskadikoorkestra.eus, as the dates of each show approach. Tickets can also be purchased at the box offices of the relevant venues and on the Kursaal website (kursaal.eus).

Below is detailed information on the productions and dates of their concerts:

1) ARRIAGA BIZI DA

Emiliano Arriaga, while tidying up his attic, finds an old violin and, caressing its out-of-tune strings, plucks the keys of memory. He begins to recall his uncle, Juanito, a musician who died in Paris a few days before his 20th birthday… We know barely anything about his personality or his life, which was spent between the old quarter of Bilbao and Paris, the musical capital of the time, so in our concert we will play at guessing or imagining what Juanito was really like, always using his music, other musicians of his time and with the help of Artificial Intelligence, which perhaps will allow us to converse for a moment with this endearing and brilliant Bilbao native.

With the participation of: Larraitz Oiartzabal (violin); Ana Belén García (piano); Luken Munguira (tenor)

Script: Ana Belen García, Amagoia Elosegi, Alaia Belaunzaran (conducted by Mikel Cañada

AI Applications: ACC Comunicación

Programme:

• J. Arambarri: Atea tan tan
• J. C. de Arriaga: Romanza para piano
• M. Albéniz: Sonata in D
• J. C. de Arriaga: Hungarian Variations for violin and piano/ Oedipus at Colonus (Aria)
• P. Albéniz: Alboradetako soinua
• W. A. Mozart: Davide penitente (Aria)
• J. C. de Arriaga: The Happy Slaves (overture)/ Nothing and Everything

CONCERTS FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN (Primary and secondary education)
15, 16, 19, 20, 21 and 22, October (9:45 /11:15), Miramon, (San Sebastián)

FAMILY CONCERT (Relaxed session)
17 October (12:00*), Miramon (San Sebastián)

*Prior to the concert, at 10:45 a.m., a free, optional, complementary awareness-raising workshop will be offered. Registration: musikagela@euskadikoorkestra.eus

2) LOGELAN LOGALE

This magnificent, significant cantata will be performed for the third consecutive season and for the first time will be presented to children with hearing impairments. 16 deaf people will sing using sign language alongside the pilot choir made up of Easo Gazte, the Andoain Municipal School of Music and the Hernani Municipal School of Music.

With the participation of: Jagoba Astiazaran (original music); Leire Bilbao (libretto); Basque National Orchestra; Juanjo Ocón (conductor); Kepa Errasti (singer and actor); Eva Ugalde (choir director)

Programme: Preludioa / Kask-kask! / Gauaren beltza / Oheko burkoa / Gaueko / Harri, orri, ar / Mamua ote da? / Nire itzala / Hitz jolasak / Ispiluaren aurrean / Logelan logale

CONCERTS FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN (Primary and secondary education)
13 November (11:00): Miramon (San Sebastián)

3) ANIZTASUNA HARMONIAN

This concert features an unusual musical programme including symphonic works written by women, who for many years were excluded from orchestral programmes, alongside works composed by musicians from other cultures and ethnic backgrounds.

With the participation of: Basque National Orchestra; Maite Aurrekoetxea (director); Ana Egiazabal (presenter)

Programme:

• R. García Ascot: Suite for orchestra (1st movement)
• F. Price: Symphony No. 3 (III. Juba. Allegro)
• R. Sierra: Symphony No. 3 (III. Dances)
• L. Farrenc: Symphony No. 3 (excerpts)
• A. Beach: Gaelic Symphony (excerpts)
• G. Tailleferre: Short suite for orchestra
• G. D. Weiss: What a Wonderful World (arrangement: T. Goodman)
• W. Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony (I. The Bond of Africa)

CONCERTS FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN (Primary and secondary education)
21, 22 January (9.45 /11:30) Kursaal (San Sebastián)

4) MOZART, NANNERL ETA LAGUNAK

One of the most illustrious figures in classical music, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and his sister Maria Anna Mozart (a composer whose music has barely survived to the present day) will be the focal point of this concert. Nannerl, Maria Anna’s nickname, will be brought back to life to raise her profile and introduce us to her brother’s music.

With the participation of: Larraitz Oiartzabal (violin); Nathalie Dabadie (violin); Justyna Janiak-Krymer (viola); Jon Larraz (cello); Sara Zufiaurre (clarinete); Pedro José Rodríguez (piano); Mónica Torres (actress)

Programme:

• W. A. Mozart: Quintet for clarinet and strings (I. Allegro); Serenade No. 13 (I. Allegro); Clarinet Concerto (II. Adagio); Piano Sonata No. 12 (I. Allegro); Piano Sonata No. 11 (III. Rondo: Alla Turca); Piano Sonata No. 12 (III. Adagio); 12 Variations on the Lied ‘Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman’; Clarinet Concerto (III. Rondo: Allegro)
• L. Mozart: Nannerl’s notebook

CONCERTS FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN (Early Childhood education)
18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25 February (9:45 / 11:15), Miramon (San Sebastián)

FAMILY CONCERTS (3 < 6 years)
14 February (17:00/18:30), García Lorca (Vitoria)
20 February (11:00/12:30), Miramon (San Sebastián)

5) BRASSTORM

A concert by a brass quintet aimed at connecting with young people and engaging with their concerns and experiences. We will analyse how trends and fashions influence the development of our identity and tastes.

With the participation of: Brass quintet of the Basque National Orchestra; Ana Egiazabal (presenter)

Programme:

• A. Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man
• E. Crespo: American Suite No. 1 (Peruvian Waltz)
• T. Susato: Susato suite: La mourisque / Basse danse bergeret
• W. A. Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 11 (III. Rondo: Alla Turca)
• W. Kilar: The Pianist (Moving to the Ghetto Oct. 31, 1940)
• L. Maurer: Three pieces for brass quintet
• L. Serrano: An adventure
• A. Piazzolla: Libertango
• D. Shostakovich: The Screw (Satirical Dances)
• B. Berns, J. Wexler & S. Burke: Everybody Needs Somebody to Love

FAMILY CONCERTS (> 12 year)
18 April  (18:00*), Félix Petite (Vitoria)
24 April (18:00*), Kursaal, Chamber Hall (San Sebastian)

*Prior to the concerts, at 16:45 a.m., a free, optional, complementary awareness-raising workshop will be offered. Registration: 943003170 (San Sebastián) / 945161045 (Vitoria).

Musikazaleak

The Basque National Orchestra has a long record of fostering inclusion in the Music Room, led by FEVAS Plena Inclusión Euskadi. Both entities began working on a joint initiative over 15 years ago, with the aim of fostering inclusion and the right to culture for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Since then, over 1,500 people have taken part in numerous activities, chief among which are the workshops in Bilbao, Vitoria and San Sebastian, together with concerts at the orchestra's centre in Miramon. These activities have earned it the "Good Practice" prize awarded by the Spanish Confederation of Organisations for People with Intellectual Disabilities (FEAPS) and have sown the seed with examples such as Mosaic of sounds, an initiative that then spread to 14 Spanish orchestras as an innovative practice in which music becomes an instrument for personal development and social inclusion. This initiative received the CERMI 2018 national award for advancing disability inclusion by means of music. More recently, the Basque National Orchestra also received the Aspalagun 2025 Recognition, for its awareness and visibility work, carried out within the framework of Musika Gela.

Two seasons ago, this shared project took a new, major step forward with the launch of Musikazaleak. Musikazaleak consists of forming three fixed groups (one in Bilbao, one in San Sebastian and one in Vitoria) of some fifteen people with intellectual or developmental disabilities who will take part in eight musical workshops and perform a concert at the end of the course. The first two experiences bore extraordinary fruit and the third edition is already underway.

These workshops are led by Yamel Romero, composer, music therapist and sophrologist specialised in the accompaniment and development of teams and individuals through music. Students from the Musikene Master’s degree programme in Music Mediation, Management and Promotion are also taking part. And they enjoy the collaboration of the Conservatorio Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga de Bilbao and the Municipal Theatre Network of Vitoria-Gasteiz.  

Open Rehearsals

Musika Gela continues with its Open Rehearsals, aimed at groups, schools, conservatories and universities, among others, which offer a chance to see first-hand how our orchestra works in the moments leading up to a concert. Three Open Rehearsals will be offered this season in Kursaal:

• 3 December: E. Elgar, Enigma Variations (Conductor: Marzena Diakun)
• 1 February: R. Schumann, Genoveva. Overture & Symphony No. 4 (Conductor: Philipp von Steinaecker)
• 22 April: G. Mahler, Symphony No. 6 (Conductor: Pablo González)

MUSIC ROOM ON YOUTUBE

Music Room has its own section on the YouTube Channel of the Basque National Orchestra, where you can see complete performances from the cycle, such as Nire ama antzara; Musika tantak, Ilargiari kantari; Boléro; Polikinela and Living Room Music. In addition, videos of this season's concerts will be uploaded as they take place.

BROAD NETWORK OF COLLABORATORS

The Basque National Orchestra’s Music Room cycle continues to strengthen its collaboration with various institutions in the surrounding area, such as the General Council of Gipuzkoa, the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, the Education Department of the San Sebastian City Council, the Municipal Theatre Network of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Kursaal Eszena and El Diario Vasco.

PROJECTS AND NETWORKS PROMOTING INCLUSION

The full Music Room cycle forms part of ARTIS+, art for social inclusion, a European cross-border cooperation project that seeks to improve the accessibility of cultural facilities for groups of those at risk of exclusion, whether for reasons of disability or for social reasons. This project will continue to be shared with partners such as the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, L'Auditori and OBC Orchestra of Barcelona and the Orchestra of Pau, among others.

In the same vein, Music Room’s programming now forms part of Gertu Kultura, a network of cultural programmers who join forces to facilitate access to culture for people in vulnerable situations. This non-profit initiative seeks to improve people's quality of life through culture. To this end, by working with cultural programmers and social entities, it creates unique cultural spaces and experiences at very low prices, providing priority access and personalised treatment based on listening to and responding to the needs of different groups. Gertu Kultura comes from the Apropa Cultura network, set up by the Auditori de Barcelona which, after two decades of experience in Catalonia, is now a model inclusive network, with more than 190 cultural programmers, more than 1,800 social entities and over 54 municipalities.

Associations that participate in some of the Musika Gela proposals:

Apdema, Apnabi, Aspace, Atzegi, Futubide, Gaude, Gautena, Gertuan, Gorabide, Goyeneche, Uliazpi, Usoa, Erroak-Sartu Elkartea, Emaus, Elkargune, Bagara-Gureak, Garagune, Berio Gerontological Centre, Brain Injury Day Centre, Maldatxo Psychosocial Rehabilitation Centre.

ARTIS+

This cycle forms part of the ARTIS+ project, which is 65% co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Spain-France-Andorra Programme (POCTEFA 2021 - 2027).

More information