Jóvenes talentosos en concierto
A sonic kaleidoscope. This is how the notes describe the repertoire that the performers of the Youth Orchestra of Andalusia are preparing in Pilas. Eighty musicians, aged under 25 years old, are preparing a program for their Spring Encounter that brings together emblematic works from the orchestral repertoire and celebrates the richness of classical music with popular undertones. Manuel de Falla, Maurice Ravel, and Juan Pablo Contreras are the composers behind the scores that will be performed at the Teatro Villamarta in Jerez de la Frontera and the Maestranza in Seville. An invitation to an artistic journey where tradition and modernity intertwine, showcasing the diversity and universality of music as a common and inspiring language.
«It’s a repertoire that connects deeply with the energy of a youth orchestra and with a common theme: nationalism,» argues the guest conductor of this encounter, the Colombian Juan Pablo Valencia. The music that will resonate in Jerez and Seville shares a common trait: the «ability to perceive images and experiences on which the composers based these pieces,» as well as a sensory journey between two continents, Europe and Latin America.
Starting from Mexico, ‘Mariatchitlán’ by Juan Pablo Contreras kicks off this journey. The score encapsulates the life of the Plaza de Jalisco in Mexico City, translating the mariachi world into an academic language and paying a colorful and vibrant tribute to the Mexican spirit. The energy and passion of this composition resonate perfectly with the values of the Youth Orchestra of Andalusia, which aims to reflect and connect cultures through music.
From Mexico to Andalusia through the ‘suites‘ of the ballet ‘El sombrero de tres picos’ by Manuel de Falla. The two selected ‘suites’ capture the festive and vibrant essence of this work, infused with popular rhythms and melodies that evoke Spanish tradition, blending popular rhythms and melodies under an orchestral fabric of undeniable impressionistic influence.
The guest conductor of the Spring Encounter of the Youth Orchestra of Andalusia, Juan Pablo Valencia, alongside the musicians.
As a conclusion, one of the «great symphonic milestones that should be part of the academic repertoire of any youth orchestra, as it will contribute to their academic development and give maturity to the musicians.» This is ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ by Modest Mussorgsky, presented in this occasion in the celebrated orchestration by Maurice Ravel – who this year marks the 150th anniversary of his birth. The score draws inspiration from the colorful paintings of the artist and architect Viktor Hartmann and is distinguished by its ability to merge visual and auditory art. Ravel’s orchestration gives the piece a rich and luminous timbral palette, as well as a dialogue between Russian robustness and French refinement.
«It is a great honor to lead the Orchestra with this program, but at the same time, a great responsibility for what it represents,» affirms Valencia, leading as artistic director in this encounter after being part of the academic team since 2023. The Colombian conductor has been working with the Andalusian performers, and this work will continue as a resident director, responsible for guiding the process of artistic growth and professionalization of the future Andalusian music protagonists. His role in this stage, where the Andalusian Young Performers Program has already passed its thirties, will serve to provide another perspective on the artistic training process and to strengthen that sparkling personality with which he connected from his first collaboration with the ensemble.
Thus, his work will be to guide the desire to learn and apprehend, to steer talent in the right direction, and to contribute to their natural growth as artists and performers. A task aligned with the values of the Program, which has allowed to create a professional fabric in constant renewal that serves as a breeding ground to infuse new blood into the national and international orchestras, create new choral and symphonic projects, and boost new generations of soloists and chamber music ensembles of a stable nature, as well as professionals in management, composition, orchestral and choral conducting, and music education.
