Spanish National Orchestra Explained

The Orquesta Nacional de España (Spanish National Orchestra) is a Spanish orchestra based in Madrid.

History

Although the orchestra originated as of 1937, during the Spanish Civil War,[1] it was legally founded in 1940,[2] by the merging of Pérez Casas' Filarmónica and the Orquesta Sinfónica of Enrique Fernández Arbós.

The first official concert of the newly founded orchestra was in March 1941 at the Teatro María Guerrero in Madrid, conducted by the Portuguese conductor Pedro de Freitas Branco (1896–1963). The principal conductors of the first years of the orchestra were Ernesto Halffter, José María Franco, Enrique Jordá, Eduard Toldrà and Jesús Arámbarri, until the designation of the first principal conductor of the orchestra, Bartolomé Pérez Casas. After the death of Pérez Casas, the new principal conductor was Ataúlfo Argenta, who was in the orchestra from 1945 as the keyboard instruments player.[2]

In 2014, David Afkham became principal conductor of the orchestra.[3] In February 2019, the orchestra announced the elevation of Afkham's title to chief conductor and artistic director, effective with the 2019-2020 season.[4] In January 2023, the orchestra announced an extension of Afkham's contract through September 2026.[5]

Principal conductors

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Orquesta Nacional de Espana OCNE . Askonas Holt . 24 August 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081008114159/http://www.askonasholt.co.uk/green/green/home.nsf/ArtistDetails/Orquesta%20Nacional%20de%20Espana%20OCNE . October 8, 2008 .
  2. Web site: Luis Mario Fraile . Orquestas en España. 24 August 2009. es.
  3. News: Rubén . Amón . David Afkham: 'La cultura es nuestra identidad . . 16 February 2015 . 2023-01-18 . Unidad Editorial Información General S.L.U. . es.
  4. David Afkham appointed Chief Conductor & Artistic Director of Orquestra y Coro Nacional de España . Askonas Holt . 13 February 2019 . 2023-01-18.
  5. David Afkham seguirá al frente de la Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España . Orquestra y Coro Nacional de España . 10 January 2023 . 2023-01-18.