Los alumnos de 1º y 2º curso de la ESO del Colegio Alemán San Alberto Magno de San Sebastián han podido disfrutar de un encuentro con el violonchelista Daniel Müller-Shcott, que participa estos días en el último programa de abono de la Orquesta de Euskadi. La visita de Müller-Schott al centro se enmarca dentro del programa "Rapsody in School International". Este proyecto puesto en marcha por el pianista Lars Vogt y apoyado por la Fundación Territorial Alemana de las Artes (Kulturstiftung der Länder), tiene como objetivo fomentar entre los jóvenes el entusiasmo por la música clásica dándoles la oportunidad de conocer de cerca a destacadas figuras del ámbito la música clásica.

The Basque National Orchestra is gearing up for the final programme of the 2009-2010 Concert Season under the baton of first-time guest conductor Mikhail Agrest. In addition to Agrest's conducting debut, cellist Daniel Müller-Schott will be joining the Orchestra for the first time in a performance of Edward Elgar's Concerto for Cello and Orchestra. The world premiere of Haizea alde by Joseba Torre is another one of the programme highlights. The concerts, each of which will preceded by a Pre-concert Conference, are slated for May 31 and June 3 in Donostia-San Sebastián, June 1 in Pamplona, June 2 in Bilbao, and June 4 in Vitoria-Gasteiz. This last concert will mark the end of the BNO concert season.

The outstanding careers of both Mikhail Agrest and Daniel Müller-Schott have earned them an international profile. Mikhail Agrest joined the Mariinsky Theatre in 2001, and has appeared with Leipzig's Gewandhaus Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Müller-Schott has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, the Boston Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic and the Orchestre National de France, among others, under such renowned conductors as Askhenazy, Eschenbach, Dutoit, Previn and Masur. Daniel Müller-Schott also takes part in the "Rhapsody in School International", an initiative started by pianist Lars Vogt with support from the German Arts Foundation Kulturstiftung der Länder. The aim of the programme is to infuse young people with an enthusiasm for classical music, giving them the chance to meet outstanding figures in the field of classical music (www.rhapsody-in-school.de); in this context, on Thursday, June 3, Müller-Schott will teach a class for the students at the San Alberto Magno German primary school in San Sebastián.

World premiere of Haizea alde. The programme for these concerts includes a premiere performance of Joseba Torreo's Haizea alde commissioned by the Orchestra. In the words of the composer, this piece is a "fusion of parameters, a synthesis which gives shape to a whole, diverse and contrasting, intense, deep and unexpected like the sea, the sea, whose perpetual present leads to a future intimately bound to the ability to imagine and desire, to sail with the wind." This commission is part of the Orchestra's commitment to the creation and promotion of Basque music. Between 1986 and today, this commitment has materialised in a total of 13 works by the following composers: Carmelo Bernaola, Félix Ibarrondo, Luis de Pablo, Antón Larrauri, Francisco Escudero, Rafael Castro Peña, Tomás Aragüés, Ramon Lazkano, Gabriel Erkoreka, Zuriñe Fernández Gerenabarrena, Antonio Lauzurika and Joseba Torre. Schumann Symphony No. 1 "Spring" will complete the concert programme.

Pre-concert Conferences. Before each of the concerts in the final programme of the season there will be a Pre-concert Conference. On this occasion guest speakers will be musicologist Itziar Larrinaga in Donostia-San Sebatián, Public University of Navarra (UPNA) professor Marcos Andrés Vierge in Pamplona, music critic Carlos Villasol in Bilbao and composer Sabin Salaberri in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Concerts
May 31 and June 3: Kursaal Auditorium. Donostia-San Sebastián. 8:00 pm. Pre-concert Conference. Foyer, Kursaal Auditorium. 6:45 pm
June 1: Baluarte Auditorium, Pamplona. 8:00 pm. Pre-concert Conference. Sala Gola, Auditorio Baluarte. 6:45 pm
June 2: Palacio Euskalduna, Bilbao. 8:00 pm. Pre-concert Conference. Sala B1 Euskalduna. 6:45 pm
June 4: Teatro Principal. Vitoria-Gasteiz. 8:00 pm. Pre-concert Conference. Sala Espacio-Ciudad (opposite the theatre). 6:45 pm

Programme:
Joseba Torre (1968): Haizea alde [14'] (commissioned by the Basque National Orchestra, world premiere)
Edward Elgar (1857-1934): Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Minor, Opus 85 [30']
Robert Schumann (1810-1856): Symphony No. 1 in B Flat Major, Opus 38, "Spring" [30']

Mikhail Agrest, conductor
Daniel Müller-Schott, cello

While Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa takes centre stage at the BNO Season Concert series, the Basque National Orchestra will be travelling to Madrid to give a concert on Thursday, May 20, at the Auditorio Nacional de Música. Organized by the Sociedad General de Autores in conjunction with the SGAE (Spanish Society of Authors), Fundación Autor and the Auditorio Nacional de Música, the concert, conducted by maestro José Ramón Encinar, will pay tribute to Bilbao-born composer Luis de Pablo on his 80th birthday. The concert will feature cellist Asier Polo performing Frondoso misterio, and flutist Cécile Daroux, playing Figura en el mar.

The music of Luis de Pablo (Bilbao, 1930) has found a secure place in the Basque National Orchestra's repertoire over of its 28-year history. In 1983 the Orchestra played Elephant ivres III as part of the BNO Season Concerts, followed by the Intermezzo from de Pablo's opera Kiu in 1994, Latidos in 1995 and Tréboles in 1998. As part of the Orchestra's policy on commissioning works from Basque composers, in 1991 the BNO commissioned Luis de Pablo to write Impromptus, which premiered during the 1990-1991 concert season. In 1999 it was released on the label Audiovisuales de Sarria as part of a collection of Spanish contemporary music "Colección Música Sinfónica Española Contemporánea", conducted by Juanjo Mena, together with works by Félix Ibarrondo, Rafael Castro Peña, Carmelo Bernaola, Francisco Escudero y Antón Larrauri, also commissioned by the Orchestra. To mark its 25th anniversary in 2007, the Orchestra commissioned Luis de Pablo to compose a special piece which materialised in the form of Danzas secretas for harp and orchestra. The Orchestra premiered the piece during its the 2007-2008 Concert Season, conducted by Arturo Tamayo and with harp soloist Frédérique Cambreling. The piece is included in the Basque Composers Collection, Volume 11, published in 2008 and dedicated exclusively to the work of Luis de Pablo. The CD also includes Frondoso misterio for cello and orchestra featuring cello soloist Asier Polo.

For this concert the Orchestra will be under the baton of maestro José Ramón Encinar, who has close ties with the work of Luis de Pablo and to whom the composer dedicated his opera El viajero indiscreto. The programme will begin with Potpurri from the work Vendaval, composed in 1994 and played by the Orchestra for the first time. The next piece on the programme is Frondoso misterio for cello and orchestra, composed in 2001 and dedicated to Asier Polo, who will accompany the Basque National Orchestra on this occasion. In the second part of the concert the audience will enjoy Figura en el mar for flute and orchestra, written in 1989. French flutist Cécile Daroux will join the BNO in this piece, now included in the Orchestra's repertoire.

In addition to this symphony concert, the Luis de Pablo monographic tribute will also feature a chamber concert on Friday, May 22 at the chamber music hall of the Auditorio Nacional de Música, and a master class taught by Luis de Pablo himself.

Concert:
20 May: Auditorio Nacional de Música, Madrid. 7:30 pm

Programme:
Luis de Pablo (1930)
Vendaval. Potpourri [5']*
Frondoso misterio [29']
Figura en el mar [31']*

*Premiere performance by the OSE

Basque National Orchestra
José Ramón Encinar, conductor
Asier Polo, cello
Cécile Daroux, flute

The Music Laboratory is a new initiative undertaken by the Basque National Orchestra to support future musicians including orchestra conductors, soloists and composers. Putting this project on its feet was one of Andrés Orozco-Estrada's first concerns when he became the Orchestra's Principal Conductor. As the leading institution and musical backbone of the Basque Country, the Basque National Orchestra has now cemented a much-needed collaboration with promising up-and-coming musicians.

The Basque Youth Orchestra (EGO) will set the stage for the first edition of the Music Laboratory, centred on young solists. Four soloists from the EGO will perform in a concert along with the Basque National Orchestra under the baton of Principal Conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada. Flute soloist Xabier Calzada Ordeñana, double bass player Ander Perrino Cabello, bassoonist Patricia Lapresta Calvo and violin soloist Sandra Stanculescu Stere will perform works by Ibert, Nino Rota, Heitor Villa-Lobos and Jean Sibelius.

The concert will take place at the Orchestra's Miramón headquarters this Friday, April 30th, at 7 pm. The event is open to Miramón Matinée season ticket holders who have previously picked up their invitation. Invitations will also be available to the general public at the Orchestra ticket office prior to the concert.

Music Laboratory
1st edition: soloist laboratory

Concert
Friday, April 30th, Basque National Orchestra Headquarters, 7 pm. with invitation

Programme
Jacques Ibert (1890-1962): Concerto for Flute and Orchestra [18']*
Xabier Calzada Ordeñana, flute
Nino Rota (1911-1979): Divertimento Concertante for Double Bass and Orchestra [23']*
Ander Perrino Cabello, double bass
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959): Ciranda Ciranda das sete notas for bassoon and string orchestra, W325 [10']*
Patricia Lapresta Calvo, bassoon
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957): Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D minor, Opus 47 [31']
Sandra Stanculescu Stere, violin

*Premiere performance by the BNO

Basque National Orchestra
Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor

El miércoles 14 de abril y el jueves día 15 Bilbao y Vitoria-Gasteiz serán escenario de los conciertos correspondientes al décimo programa de la Temporada de Abono de la Orquesta de Euskadi. En esta ocasión, el director Lawrence Foster regresa como director invitado a la Temporada de Abono para dirigir las Segundas Sinfonías de Schumann y Brahms.

Tras haber dirigido las Terceras y Cuartas Sinfonías de Schumann y Brahms en temporadas anteriores, Lawrence Foster dirigirá en esta ocasión las segundas obras sinfónicas de ambos compositores en un programa titulado "Vidas paralelas". Y es que son varias las coincidencias en el devenir creativo de Schumann y Brahms: ambos compusieron cuatro sinfonías y, además, los dos llegaron a enfrentarse a este género con cierto titubeo y temor; a Schumann le cohibió su escasa familiaridad con la orquesta y a Brahms su cautela ante el inalcanzable ejemplo beethoveniano. Frente a la atmósfera dramática, sombría y apasionada de la Sinfonía nº 1, concluida en 1876, la Segunda Sinfonía de Brahms, escrita durante el verano del año siguiente, muestra, según Juan Manuel Viana, autor de las notas al programa "una inspiración mucho más distendida y feliz". Schumann, por su parte, intentará abrir una nueva vía que permita dejar atrás la imponente sombra Beethoven mediante un procedimiento de relaciones temáticas entre movimientos, ya ensayado en la Sinfonía "Primavera", pero que en la Segunda cobrará especial intensidad.

Lawrence Foster ha comenzado la temporada 2009/10 como Director musical de la Orquesta y Ópera Nacional de Montpellier e iniciado su octava temporada como director artístico y director titular de la Orquesta Gulbenkian. Ha sido director musical de la Orquesta Sinfónica de Barcelona, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony Orchestra y Orchestre de Chamber de Lausanne. Esta temporada, destacan sus conciertos con la Orquesta de la Gewandhaus y las Filarmónicas de Helsinki y Holanda. También dirigirá los conciertos de Chopin con Barenboim como solista, al frente de la Gulbenkian y la Filarmónica de Montecarlo. Tiene previstos otros compromisos, como dirigir a la NDR Sinfonieorchester Hamburg, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Residentie Orkest (con Aldo Ciccolini), Tivoli Symphony Orchestra (con Evgeny Kissin), además de los últimos conciertos de la temporada 2010/11 de la MDR Sinfonieorchester Leipzig.

Tras estos conciertos, la Orquesta ofrecerá la próxima semana un nuevo programa de Abono, esta vez en las cuatro capitales habituales, bajo la dirección de Andrey Boreyko y con la pianista Ewa Kupiec como solista.

Los conciertos
14 de abril: Palacio Euskalduna, Bilbao. 20:00h.
15 de abril: Teatro Principal. Vitoria-Gasteiz. 20:00h.

El programa
Robert Schumann: Sinfonía nº 2 en do mayor, opus 61 [36']
Johannes Brahms: Sinfonía nº2 en re mayor, opus 73 [42']

Lawrence Foster, director

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.

The Basque National Orchestra has added yet another CD to its repertoire. This latest release, a monographic CD devoted to San Sebastian-born composer Ramón Lazkano, was recorded in September 2009 at the BSO Miramón headquarters in San Sebastián. The Orchestra discography now boasts more than 40 recordings.

This CD features three works taken from the Ramon Lazkano composition catalogue: Hauskor (2006), together with the Amsterdam Cello Octet; Ortzi Isilak (2005), with Swiss clarinet soloist Ernesto Molinari; and Ilunkor, commissioned for Lazkano by the Orchestra in 2000. The recording came under the baton of German conductor Johannes Kalitzke, specialist in contemporary repertoire, in his first conducting appearance with the BNO.
This CD falls under a new line of recordings called "Música de hoy-Gaurko Musika" (Music of Today), and is part of the Orchestra's decision to diversify its discography. Recorded for Kairos, the prestigious record label specialising in contemporary music, Lazkano is the first name in a line of CDs geared to contemporary classical music.

It is also the first time for the Orchestra to join forces with the Austrian record label Kairos. Founded in Vienna in 1999, Kairos focuses exclusively on the promotion of contemporary music. Kairos is an ancient Greek word meaning the right or opportune moment, a unique moment in time. Kairos aims to preserve the "supreme moment" we call music. The goal is to capture music for the listening pleasure of contemporary music lovers, music that opens new spaces and experiences for modern minds and ears.

The record
Ramon Lazkano
Recorded at the Basque National Orchestra headquarters from September 14-18, 2009.

The works
Hauskor for eight cellos and orchestra (2006)
Ortzi Isilak for clarinet and orchestra (2005)
Ilunkor for orchestra (2000)

Johannes Kalitzke, conductor
Ernesto Molinari, clarinet
Cello Octet Amsterdam
Basque National Orchestra
Record label: KAIROS

The Basque National Orchestra and the Orfeón Donostiarra will be joining forces at the Kursaal auditorium to perform a concert on Saturday, February 27th in solidarity with the victims of the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12th. BNO managing director Iñigo Alberdi, Orfeón Donostiarra chairman José Mª Echarri, and Orchestra instructor Mario Telenti offered a press conference with details of the event.

The two groups have come together on this joint initiative to give a performance of Giuseppe Verdi's Messa da Réquiem. The concert will be conducted by BNO principal conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada, and featuring soprano Esther Lee, mezzo-soprano Iris Vermillion, tenor Aquiles Machado and bass Adam Horvath. All of the performers have agreed to donate their talents to help the victims of the catastrophe.

Concert tickets have been on sale since February 5th for the price of 45 and 25 euros. Tickets are available for purchase through Servikutxa, Telekutxa (943 00 12 00), www.kutxa.net and at the Kursaal ticket office (on days of Kursaal Foundation sponsored performances).

All of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Red Cross, the NGO entrusted with making sure the money is well spent in Haiti. Since the aftermath of the earthquake, over 400 Red Cross and Half Red Crescent workers have been deployed to the area. Volunteers of the Haitian Red Cross are on the front line of operations and have been working around the clock in spite of personal tragedy. So far over 540 tonnes of humanitarian aid from the Red Cross and Red Crescent have made it to Port-au-Prince by air or overland from Santo Domingo, the capital of the neighbouring Dominican Republic. The Red Cross and Red Crescent are seeking 105 million Swiss francs for the immediate relief effort.

The concert
Saturday, February 27 Kursaal Auditoriim, Donostia-San Sebastián. 8:00 pm

Programme
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901): Messa da Requiem [84']

Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor
Esther Lee, soprano
Iris Vermillion, mezzo-soprano
Aquiles Machado, tenor
Adam Horvath, bass
Orfeón Donostiarra (Dir. José Antonio Sainz Alfaro)
Basque National Orchestra

Basque National Orchestra managing director Iñigo Alberdi and San Sebastian mayor Odón Elorza have signed an agreement to add the Orchestra to the official roster of supporters of San Sebastian's bid for the 2016 title of European Capital of Culture. As part of the agreement, the Orchestra will stage a free concert this year for the people of San Sebastian.

The Basque National Orchestra's adhesion to the San Sebastián 2016 candidature is a backed by its ongoing commitment to enriching the cultural life in the Guipuzcoan capital. In addition to having its headquarters in San Sebastian, the BNO also offers four types of concert series: the Subscribers' Season concerts, Matinées at Miramon chamber music series, the Family Concert series and the Concerts for Schools. The Orchestra also works closely with a number of cultural institutions based in San Sebastian, including the classical music festival Quincena Musical, Fundación Kursaal and the Orfeón Donostiarra.

As a result of the agreement signed today, the San Sebastian City Hall and the Basque National Orchestra pledge to work together to raise the candidature's profile and to collaborate on any matters concerning music and culture in promotion of San Sebastián's 2016 bid. As part of the agreement, the Basque National Orchestra has promised to offer a concert this year in support of San Sebastian's candidature for European Capital of Culture in 2016. The concert will be free of charge and open to the entire community. The specific date and venue have yet to be confirmed.