Valencia Orchestra

Palau de la Música de València

The Valencia Orchestra (Valencian: Orquestra de València, Spanish: Orquesta de Valencia) is a symphony orchestra in Valencia, Spain. Founded in 1943 as the Valencia Municipal Orchestra, and a member of the Spanish Association of Symphony Orchestras (AEOS), it is not to be confused with the Orquesta de la Comunidad Valenciana, founded in 2006. The Valencia Orchestra, which first performed abroad in 1950 under José Iturbi, has toured internationally more regularly in the last 20 years. It performs mainly at the city's Palau de la Música de València, which is not to be confused with the nearby Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía.

History

The Orchestra of València was established in 1943, led by Joan Lamote de Grignon. Its history features international tours to countries such as England, France (1950), Italy, Turkey (1996 with Mstislav Rostropovich as soloist), Germany (2002), Austria, and the Czech Republic (2008 with pianist Joaquín Achúcarro), and participation in the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival and Neuer Musik festival in Zurich.

The roster of resident conductors includes Hans von Benda, Napoleone Annovazzi, José Iturbi, Enrique García Asensio, and others, with Alexander Liebreich currently serving as music director and Chief Conductor. Guest conductors have included notable figures like Ataúlfo Argenta, Sergiu Celibidache, Riccardo Chailly, and Valery Gergiev.

Soloists who have performed with the orchestra encompass Daniel Barenboim, Mstislav Rostropovich, among others. The orchestra has also accompanied singers such as Victoria de los Ángeles, Plácido Domingo, and Montserrat Caballé.

The Orchestra has premiered works by composers like José Evangelista and Antón García Abril and has a diverse recording portfolio, including pieces by Beethoven, Liszt, and Spanish composers like Manuel de Falla and Joaquín Rodrigo. Significant premieres include the opera "Maror" by Manuel Palau.

Principal Conductors

• Joan Lamote de Grignon (1943–49)
• Hans von Benda (1949–1952)
• Napoleone Annovazzi
• Heinz Unger
• José Iturbi
• Enrique García Asensio (1964–65)
• Pedro Pírfano (1967–1970)
• Luis Antonio García Navarro (1970–74)
• Lorenzo Palomo (1974–1980)
• Benito Lauret (1980–1983)
• Manuel Galduf (1983–1997)
• Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez (1997–2005)
• Yaron Traub (2005–2018)
• Ramón Tébar (2018-2021)
• Alexander Liebreich (2022-)

References

• [1] Spanish Association of Symphony Orchestras.
• [2] Xàtiva town hall.

Further reading

Galbis López, Vicente (2004). Orquesta de Valencia. 60 años de vida sinfónica. Palau de la Música de Valencia. ISBN 84-609-1305-8.