After a successful finale to the concert season in Murcia (Auditorio Víctor Villegas), Albacete (Palacio de Congresos) and Valencia (Palau de Les Arts) with the Bankia Symphony Orchestra, last week José Sanchís led the sixth edition of the Conducting and Orchestral Performance Workshop at the El Escorial UCM Summer Courses. Después de cerrar con éxito la temporada de conciertos en Murcia (Auditorio Víctor Villegas), Albacete (Palacio de Congresos) y Valencia (Palau de Les Arts) con la Orquesta Sinfónica de Bankia, José Sanchís dirigió la semana pasada la sexta edición del Taller de Dirección e Interpretación Orquestal de los Cursos de Verano El Escorial de la UCM.

The new Daahoud Salim Quintet CD, published by Jamboree Jazz, will be available from today – July 5th – for free on the main digital platforms (Spotify, Deezer, iTunes, YouTube, etc.) https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6Kv7P8BDuHIMeDGZh1cuAp?si=mRWz8TdXR3GcSptxWtIkKQ

The Bankia Symphony Orchestra String Quartet – under the artistic and musical direction of José Sanchís – fills Madrid’s Royal Botanical Garden with music: https://www.docenotas.com/146344/la-musica-clasica-llega-al-botanico-la-mano-la-orquesta-sinfonica-bankia-programa-musica-jardin/ More info and link to ticket purchase: http://www.rjb.csic.es/jardinbotanico/jardin/index.php?Cab=4&len=es&Pag=724

  Members of the Daahoud Salim Quintet are gearing up to make Europe jazzier this summer! They are also finalising dates for a Spain Tour later this year. All of these will be published at http://daahoudsalimquintet.com shortly. 

Recently arrived from Bulgaria, where he played the “Concerto for saxophone baritone, piano and string orchestra” by Albena Petrovic-Vratchanska in the Sofia Philharmonic – recorded for the National Radio of Bulgaria – Joan Martí-Frasquier has had a particularly busy schedule this month: the saxophonist performed at the Barcelona Modern Festival, the ME_MMIX Festival in Palma de Mallorca (with Morphosis Ensemble) and at the Sampler Series at the Auditori de Barcelona, where he also undertook guest artist residencies in the ‘Curso Internacional de Composición’ and the ‘Seminario Música Actual para Saxofón Barítono’. Go Joan! More info: http://joanmf.com

March 1st: Rachmaninov’s Concert No. 3 with the RTVE Symphonic Orchestra and the conductor José Miguel Pérez-Sierra. Teatro Monumental, Madrid. March 2nd: “En Clave de Jazz” recital in Musika-Música. Palacio Euskalduna, Bilbao. March 3rd: Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”, with the Athenaeum Quartet in Musika-Music. Palacio Euskalduna, Bilbao. 3 consecutive days. 3 concerts. 3 indisputable successes. In sold-out venues. + info on Eduardo: https://www.eduardo-fernandez.com

If you missed Beethoven’s EGMONT, performed by the Madrid Festival Orchestra in their last concert at the Auditorio Nacional, you have a second chance: it’s now available on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/5URzGMi5WalqD0wlQdjGCU?si=VKPm54tIR7uluP2TchktcA On this occasion the MFO was directed by Albert Skuratov, its principal conductor, who currently combines this activity with support of the Ballet Nacional de España on an international tour – having recently returned from Japan. + MFO’s version of Mozart’s 440 Symphony is also available on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7kni0XDMiBIawhYEmEfslw?si=uTVnHt6dSf6EKi0A62SXTw

Last week, as part of the Comunidad de Madrid’s celebration of Federico Garcia Lorca (1898-1936), Eduardo was invited to play THE SAME PIANO PLAYED BY LORCA 100 YEARS BEFORE, in the renowned Residencia de Estudiantes. The congress, titled “Federico García Lorca: 100 Años en Madrid (1919-2019)”, took place at cultural landmarks across the city over several days, celebrating Lorca’s life, work, influences and impact. Click here to see the programme in full: http://www.comunidad.madrid/actividades/2018/congreso-federico-garcia-lorca-100-anos-madrid-1919-2019 Eduardo’s considered tribute contained pieces by some of Lorca’s favourite composers and foremost influencers, including Chopin, Beethoven, Debussy and Albéniz. Additionally, he played a piece from ‘Amor Brujo’ by Manuel de Falla – a friend of Lorca’s – and Lorca’s own ‘Nana’. Magical fingers. Wonderful music. A special piano. A small tribute – to a giant. The people who were able to attend the concert considered themselves very fortunate. But, nobody quite as much as Eduardo. /// Keep up with Eduardo’s concerts and recordings via your preferred channels, signposted here: https://www.eduardo-fernandez.com

  March the 1st, 2019 really wants to be a date for your diary; it is already St. David’s Day – useful to know if you have any friends or relatives from Wales – but it is now ALSO the day pianist Eduardo Fernández will perform Rachmaninov’s ‘Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3, Op. 30’, as a soloist with Spain’s prestigious RTVE Symphony Orchestra & Choir. Alisa Kolosova (mezzosoprano) will also feature in a performance of Elgar’s ‘The Music Makers’, ensuring this concert is NOT one to miss. + info on the programme & tickets: https://www.entradas.com/entradas-concierto-13-viernes-orquesta-sinfonica-y-coro-rtve-madrid.html?affiliate=EES&doc=artistPages%2Ftickets&fun=artist&action=tickets&key=2373654%2411534068#eventInfo + info about the RTVE Symphony Orchestra & Choir: http://www.rtve.es/orquesta-coro/orquesta-sinfonica/

  On the 22nd Of November the Madrid Festival Orchestra, conducted by Albert Skuratov, produced another warmly-received performance at the country’s premier concert hall. Interpreting pieces by Beethoven (Egmont) Mozart (Concert Symphony K297B) and Brahms (Serenade Nº 1) with the precision and gusto which characterize its delivery, the collective reaffirmed its status as an orchestra to watch. You can get news of future concerts and support this young Orchestra – and its musicians – by following it: Facebook: @madridfestivalorchestra Twitter: @mforchestra Instagram: madridfestivalorchestra THANK YOU to all of you who went to this concert and to Idealista for making a contribution towards production costs.