The Basque National Orchestra joins major Basque artists to record an Erkoreka record

Juanjo Mena, Asier Polo, Alfonso Gómez and Carlos Mena make up the great cast of artists who, together with Euskadiko Orkestra, are currently recording three works by the Bilbao composer Gabriel Erkoreka at the Donostia Campus of the Euskadi Technology Park. The recording will be released in a few months

In these initial stages of the new season, Euskadiko Orkestra is currently working at its headquarters on the Donostia Campus of the Euskadi Technology Park to record an album featuring three works by the Bilbao composer Gabriel Erkoreka. To this end, it has gathered together some of the orchestra’s regular collaborators, Basque artists of the highest level and international renown, and the result of this recording process will reflect the rich musical heritage of this country.

Ekaitza, Piscis, and Tres sonetos para Michelangelo are three recent works from Gabriel Erkoreka’s composition catalogue that will now be brought together with this recording, which will conclude this Friday after various vigorous work days. Three works were conceived by Erkoreka for these three soloists, which they have premièred and now recorded. In addition, this recording has the great virtue of being created among good friends.

Good friends, great artists

Asier Polo at the head of cello concerto Ekaitza, Alfonso Gómez with the piano concerto Piscis, and Carlos Mena with Tres sonetos para Michelangelo take on this recording with great responsibility, knowing that this is the first reference recording of these pieces. This project’s musical direction is crowned by the work of director Juanjo Mena from Vitoria-Gasteiz, who is a connoisseur of all of these artists and the work of composer Gabriel Erkoreka himself, with this to say about this new project: “The performers are a sure thing, we have worked through it thoroughly, they are fantastic and directed by Juanjo Mena, who knows my music so well and has premièred a number of my pieces. There is a great deal of pent up emotion in this project”.

Musical heritage

This project is of great musical relevance and fully encompasses the essence and mission of the Basque National Orchestra to contribute to the spread of culture in Euskadi, telegraphing musical values abroad, and serving to stimulate and provide space for Basque performers and composers, while also being a backdrop for documenting our musical production through recordings. The Provincial Councils of Araba, Bizkaia, and Gipuzkoa are providing support for this recording, which will be made public in a few months.