Roberto Abbado and Fabio Biondi take over the musical direction of the Palau de les Arts
09.03.2015
The two musical directors will be present at the auditions in June and July for the 14 vacancies in the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana
< The differentiation of repertoire will mark Abbado and Biondi's work with the Palau de les Arts' resident orchestra for the next four years
Ramón Tebar, from Valencia, will conduct an opera and a concert each season.
Valencia. The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía today presented its new musical direction, which features Italians Roberto Abbado and Fabio Biondi as musical directors and Valencian Ramón Tebar as principal guest conductor.
According to the Minister of Education, Culture and Sport, María José Catalá, speaking at the press conference, this is “a day of satisfaction,” as stated by the Minister of Education, Culture and Sport, María José Catalá, “for a commitment fulfilled in this new stage in the history of the Palau de les Arts.”
“A wise decision for the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana (OCV), and I am also pleased with the presence of a Valencian conductor, which confirms the great career of the musicians from our Community,” she added.
Davide Livermore explained that the new musical structure is based on the batons of Roberto Abbado and Fabio Biondi, two conductors at the same level of hierarchy for the next four years.
Abbado and Biondi are two prominent figures who will allow the OCV to fully develop both its operatic and symphonic repertoires, as the General Manager has pointed out. This program features Valencian conductor Ramón Tebar as its principal guest conductor, who will lead an opera and a symphonic concert each season.
Both Roberto Abbado and Fabio Biondi, as Davide Livermore has reminded us, will be present at the auditions to fill fourteen jobs in the specialties of violin, viola, cello, double bass, bassoon, horn, trumpet and trombone in the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, a process that will take place throughout the month of June and the beginning of July.
The recent production of Donizetti's Don Pasquale marked Roberto Abbado's debut at the Palau de les Arts, achieving critical and popular acclaim. Born into a distinguished musical dynasty, he has pursued his career in both his native Italy and the United States, where he cultivates both symphonic and operatic repertoire. A two-time winner of the prestigious Abbiati Awards, he frequently conducts the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra in Milan, the orchestras of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, as well as the RAI National Symphony Orchestra.
Roberto Abbado's resume also includes work with other leading European ensembles such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, and the Staatskapelle in Dresden.
Maestro Abbado, who attended the presentation, emphasized the very favorable impression the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana made on him, as well as the high standard of the Palau de les Arts, which he placed “among the best in the world.” In this regard, Roberto Abbado expressed his commitment to working to further enhance the reputation of the Valencian arts center.
Fabio Biondi is one of the leading authorities on Baroque music, as Davide Livermore emphasized in his introduction. Founder of the Europa Galante ensemble, his presence is essential in concert halls and opera houses worldwide that program this repertoire. Maestro Biondi has also worked as a soloist and conductor with numerous orchestras, including the Orchestra of Santa Cecilia in Rome, the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg, the European Baroque Orchestra, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, the RAI Symphony Orchestra, and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, among others.
An academician of Santa Cecilia in Rome, Biondi also boasts an impressive and highly awarded discography career, which adds to his numerous awards and mentions.
Biondi was unable to attend the event in Valencia but participated by telephone, as well as through a recorded message. The maestro from Palermo hopes to undertake significant work with the Valencia Orchestra (OCV) on operatic language and interpretation, in addition to cultivating and diversifying an important repertoire, since, as he emphasized, “opera begins with Monteverdi.” Fabio Biondi intends to complement this endeavor with his pedagogical approach, contributing to what he described as “a very exciting adventure.”
Ramón Tebar participated via videoconference. "The most internationally renowned Valencian conductor," according to the Mayor, and the first Spaniard to lead an opera company in the United States, he is currently the artistic director of the Naples Opera (Florida), music director of the Santo Domingo Festival, and conductor of the Palm Beach Symphony Orchestra.
With engagements in Europe and the United States, Ramón Tebar has conducted some of the greatest singers and soloists, including Roberto Alagna, Montserrat Caballé, Plácido Domingo, Angela Gheorghiu, Maria Guleghina, Ben Heppner, and Renata Scotto.
The Valencian maestro has expressed his delight at his connection with the Palau de les Arts, which will mark his debut in the city of Valencia next season. He expressed his gratitude for the appointment, not only for the international prestige of the Valencian arts center but also because it is "the opera house of my hometown, where I have so many acquaintances among the musicians, choir, and technicians."
