The Valencian Community Orchestra performs works by Kaija Saariaho in its debut at ENSEMS under the direction of Juanjo Mena
13.09.2021
Les Arts és Simfònic
- The resident ensemble of Les Arts presents a program dedicated to the Finnish composer, one of the great figures of 20th and 21st century music.
- Tickets for this concert on Friday, September 17th, at the Auditori are priced between 15 and 25 euros
Valencia (13.9.21). The Valencian Community Orchestra (OCV) debuts at the ENSEMS festival next Friday, September 17, under the musical direction of Juanjo Mena at the Auditori de Les Arts at 8:00 p.m.
Les Arts' resident ensemble makes its first foray into Spain's oldest festival of avant-garde and experimental music with a program dedicated to Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho, an essential figure in 20th and 21st century music, performing two of her most representative works: 'Circle Map' and the clarinet concerto 'D'Om le Vrai Sens'.
Saariaho, despite being an unpublished author in the OCV program, is, as the artistic director of Les Arts, Jesús Iglesias Noriega, points out, "one of the references of current composition in absolute terms, with a presence in the main theaters and auditoriums of the world."
“In this sense,” explains Iglesias Noriega, “the concert conducted by Juanjo Mena emphasizes Les Arts’ commitment to expanding repertoires and showcasing the greatest diversity of musical styles, as well as strengthening the links between the institution and its artistic assets with the Valencian cultural fabric, which for the first time are actively participating in ENSEMS.”
Saariaho's expressive music blends modern compositional trends with tradition, reflecting his passion for nature. His works are performed by prestigious orchestras such as the Los Angeles and Berlin Philharmonic, and he has written commissioned operas for major theaters and festivals.
A highlight of her career is her collaboration with the Salzburg Festival, where 'L'amour de loin' premiered, later performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. This summer, the Aix-en-Provence Festival hosted the world premiere of her latest opera, 'Innocence', which was met with great public acclaim and unanimous praise from international critics, who have hailed the Finnish composer's work as her masterpiece.
Juanjo Mena is considered one of Spain's most internationally renowned conductors. The current principal conductor of the Cincinnati May Festival and a recognized expert in contemporary music takes the helm of this concert after opening the Les Arts season in Alicante with two concerts in Teulada and Alcoy.
The program
Saariaho fuses orchestral and electronic music based on six stanzas of poetry by the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi in 'Circle Map' (2012). The work, which received excellent critical acclaim, has premiered in major concert halls worldwide. Juanjo Mena himself conducted the work in its American premiere with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
'D'Om le Vrai Sens' (2010) is a concerto for clarinet and orchestra in six movements, which Saariaho composed for his compatriot Kari Kriikku, a virtuoso clarinetist who will also perform the piece for the audience at Les Arts. The work is inspired by the medieval cycle of six tapestries 'The Lady and the Unicorn', which symbolically depicts the five senses of humankind along with a mysterious sixth.
Les Arts és Simfònic
Les Arts reminds everyone that the price of tickets for the Juanjo Mena concert with the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana ranges between 15 and 25 euros.
The Auditori de Les Arts will host leading conductors from around the world during the 2021-2022 season. Along with the return of Spain's most internationally renowned conductors, Gustavo Gimeno, Juanjo Mena, and Josep Pons, the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana will work for the first time with Riccardo Minasi and Mark Elder in James Gaffigan's first year as music director.
