The world’s greatest orchestra festival?

The world’s greatest orchestra festival?

Orchestras

norman lebrecht

March 22, 2024

My friend Antonio Moral (pictured with pal) has rolled out his final festival in charge at Granada.

The opening nights read as follows:
Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra/Kirill Petrenko
Le Concert des Nations/ Jordi Savall
RTVE orchestra/ Christoph Eschenbach
Granada city orchestra/Tarmo Peltokoski
Vienna Philharmonic/Lorenzo Viotti
Spanish National Orchestra/David Afkham
Orchestre de Paris/Klaus Makela

The BBC Proms – or anyone else – will struggle to match that.

UPDATE: There are also condcerts coducted by Vasily Petrenko with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León. Some are calling it ‘the only festival with both Petrenkos’.

Comments

  • Pedro says:

    Salzburg is much better.

  • Ocv says:

    And also Orcheste de la Suisse Romande and Dutoit and Argerich and Orchestre du Capitole Toulouse and Peltokoski!

  • US Bass says:

    No disrespect, but I think this one stacks up — even though it’s only 5 weeks long.

    https://www.bravovail.org/performances/orchestral-series/

    Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería / Carlos Miguel Prieto
    Dallas Symphony / Fabio Luisi
    Philadelphia Orchestra / Yannick N-S / Marin Alsop / Jeff Tyzik
    New York Philharmonic / Jaap von Zweden

    Soloists include Paul Huang, Hilary Hahn, Augustin Hadelich and there will be a full production of La Boheme

  • Tiredofitall says:

    Is this a (forgive me) BSD competition? (A Wall Street term from the ’80s…)

    • Eda says:

      Gosh I have led a sheltered non US- based life. I have no idea what a BSD moment is. I can only find a reference to a Cartoon series. Nothing to do with Wall Street. But having lectured in science my whole career I learnt to ALWAYS explain acronyms.

  • Sarcasmus says:

    Check the “George Enescu” Festival….

  • Simon says:

    What is the point of bringing all these orchestras to play the same repertoire over and over?
    Not a single original concert. But it must also be said that it is also the case for the other festivals. Sad

    • professional musician says:

      Sweeping, nonsensical statement.Neither at the Proms or at major other festivals do they play standard rep only.And at the George Enescu festival Bucharest visiting orchestras almost always play a work by Enescu.

  • Just saying says:

    Mr Moral was also no slouch during his five years at the Teatro Real and eight years directing the CNDM at the National Auditorium. He’s able to shake things up enough to attract new audiences without losing the old ones; an enviable skill!

  • professional musician says:

    Are you kidding? The three Spanish orchestras are fair to middling….Every British orchestra is certainly better…Ridiculous statement.

  • Mick the Knife says:

    I’ve enjoyed the Granada Festival a great deal in the past and have heard some really good concerts in Palacio Carlos V. Highly recommended but get tickets early.

  • M2N2K says:

    The first name of the “pal” in the picture is not Joyce by any chance?

  • professional musician says:

    George Enescu Festival has an unbelievable array of world class orchestra concerts.

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