Luisotti conducts symphonies by Nielsen and Prokófiev with the Valencian Community Orchestra in Castelló

Nicola Luisotti conducts symphonies by the Danish Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) and the Russian Sergei Prokófiev (1891-1953) during the visit of the Valencian Community Orchestra (OCV) to the Castelló Auditorium this Friday, May 11.

The Italian maestro, musical director of the San Francisco Opera and the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, is currently immersed in the performances of Puccini's 'Tosca' in Valencia.

Also recognized for his previous operatic works at Les Arts, 'Mefistofele' by Arrigo Boito in 2011 and 'Nabucco' by Verdi in 2015, the musician from Viareggio offers his first symphonic concert with the theater's ensemble.

For the performance in Castellón, Luisotti has selected works by two important composers of this genre from the 20th century: Prokofiev's 'Symphony No. 7 in C-sharp minor, Op. 131' and Nielsen's 'Symphony No. 4, Op. 29, 'Inextinguishable'. These are two works never before performed by the OCV.

Sergei Prokofiev composed his Seventh Symphony in 1952, a few months before his death. The premiere of the work was, in fact, his last public appearance. The score, imbued with a youthful and optimistic spirit, was commissioned by the Music for Children and Youth Section of Moscow Radio.

Carl August Nielsen is arguably the most renowned Danish composer. The OCV delves into his repertoire with his most celebrated symphony, 'The Inextinguishable'. Written between 1914 and 1916, against the backdrop of the Great War, it owes its name to the composer's own words: "Music is life and, like life, inextinguishable."

The Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana concludes its concert series in Castelló this season with this performance. The resident orchestra of Les Arts has visited the Auditori on three other occasions. Alan Buribayev inaugurated the series alongside singers from the Centre Plácido Domingo and the OCV with a program dedicated to opera. Ramón Tebar, performing works by Berlioz, Mussorgsky, and Dukas, and Constantin Trinks, accompanied by Fatima Dzusova, winner of the Iiturbi Competition, have also given performances in the city.