After a long period of uninterrupted symphonic activity that dates back to 1845, the current Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra (OFGC) emerged as such under the protection of the public foundation of the same name created by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria in 1980. Since then it has been developing a continued and stable musical activity, with a notable increase in its symphonic and operatic performances and a significant increase in its level and artistic prestige in the Spanish musical panorama.
Among the most notable figures who have conducted the orchestra are Rudolf Barshai, Frans Brüggen, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Bernhard Klee, Leopold Hager, Christopher Hogwood, Thomas Hengelbrock, Raymond Leppard, Jesús López Cobos, Iván Martín, John Nelson, Trevor Pinnock, Mstislav Rostropovich, Pinchas Steinberg, Ralf Weikert, Antoni Wit, as well as Adrian Leaper, who was its chief director between 1994 and 2002, and Pedro Halffter, artistic director and chief director between 2004 and 2016.
There have also been many soloists who have performed with the OFGC, from the great voices of lyric: Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, Elina Garanca, Matthias Goerne, Alfredo Kraus, Petra Lang, Felicity Lott, Anne Sofie von Otter, René Pape, to the most renowned instrumentalists: Joaquín Achúcarro, Steven Isserlis, Janine Jansen, Isabelle van Keulen, Katia and Marielle Labèque, Alicia de Larrocha, Nikolai Lugansky, Mischa Maisky, Sabine Meyer, Daniel Müller-Schott, Eldar Nebolsin, Cécile Ousset , Maria João Pires, Mstislav Rostropovich, Fazil Say and Frank Peter Zimmermann, among others.
The result of the high level achieved are the invitations issued for participation in the most important Spanish symphonic cycles: “Great Orchestras of the World” by Ibermúsica (Madrid), Palau 100 (Barcelona), Palau de Valencia, “Palace Concerts” (La Coruña ), as well as the Festivals of Granada, Autumn in Madrid, Contemporary Music of Alicante, Juventudes Musicales, EXPO 92, Madrid European Cultural Capital, “Music at sunset” of National Heritage (Royal Monastery of El Escorial), Music Festival of Canary Islands (including the production of Carmina Buranade La Fura dels Baus together with the Orfeón Pamplonés and the OFGC Choir), the seasons of the OCNE (Auditorio Nacional, Madrid), the RTVE Symphony (Teatro Monumental), the Tenerife Symphony (Auditorio de Tenerife) and exchange programs with the Euskadi Symphony (San Sebastián, Vitoria, Bilbao and Pamplona) and the Navarra Symphony (Baluarte Auditorium). The OFGC re-released Bernardino Valle’s Hymn to Aragon during the EXPO 2008 celebrations in Zaragoza.
As cultural ambassador of Gran Canaria, the OFGC has carried out important tours, among which the one carried out in 1997 by Germany stands out, which included its presentation at the Alte Oper in Frankfurt, and a concert within the events organized by the Spanish Pavilion in the Lisbon Universal Exhibition 98. In 2001 the OFGC carried out a tour of Austria, Germany and Switzerland, in which they performed in venues such as the Grosses Festspielhaus in Salzburg, the Philharmonie in Cologne and the Tonhalle in Zurich; In 2006 he traveled to Japan, where he performed in Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Fukushima and Musashino; in 2007 to China, where he gave concerts in the most important auditoriums in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen; and in 2012 he made a new and successful tour to Germany.
The massive concerts offered by the OFGC in the Gran Canaria Arena, in the Gran Canaria Stadium with the Symphonicity shows, together with Sting and his Band, and Raphael Sinphonico, and in the Container Terminal of the Muelle de la Luz have had great significance. within the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Festival of Theatre, Music and Dance Temudas, with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, The Opera Experience (Verdi and Wagner), Film Music, a selection of Carmen and Ópera Viva, in which he has shared the stage with great soloists, and the OFGC and Children’s Choirs.
The OFGC has also accompanied important figures of popular song, such as José Vélez in a charity concert for the Social Work of Reception and Development, José Feliciano in the 10th Edition of the Arrecife de las Músicas in the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium or Luis Morera in the Morera Symphonic show together with the OFGC Choir.
The Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra carries out intense work to disseminate music in the different municipalities of Gran Canaria. Among his latest performances are those offered at the Auditorium of Agüimes, Plaza de Agaete, Teatro Víctor Jara de Vecindario (200th anniversary of Santa Lucía de Tirajana), Auditorium of Teror (Teror Saxophone and Jazz Festival and Fiestas del Pino), Maspalomas International Trumpet Festival (San Fernando Park Auditorium, Expomeloneras and Maspalomas Cultural Center), the “Concerts under the stars” at the Arguineguín Pier, as well as the bicentennials of the Parishes of Our Lady of Candelaria in Ingenio and Moya.
It is also the resident orchestra of the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Opera Season “Alfredo Kraus”.
Source: www.ofgrancanaria.com
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