Role

:

Ensemble

Genre

:

Opera

 

The Barcelona Symphony, National Orchestra of Catalonia (OBC) is a renowned classical music ensemble based in Barcelona, Spain. The orchestra was founded in 1944 by Eduard Toldrà, a prominent Catalan composer and conductor, with the aim of promoting classical music in Catalonia and beyond. The OBC started as a small ensemble of 15 musicians, but it quickly grew in size and reputation. In the early years, the orchestra performed mainly in Barcelona and other cities in Catalonia, but it soon began to tour internationally, playing in major concert halls across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Over the years, the OBC has collaborated with many of the world's leading conductors and soloists, including Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim, Martha Argerich, and Yo-Yo Ma, among others. The orchestra has also recorded extensively, with over 100 albums to its name, many of which have won critical acclaim and awards. One of the highlights of the OBC's history was its performance at the opening ceremony of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. The orchestra played a specially commissioned piece by Catalan composer Joan Albert Amargós, which was broadcast to millions of viewers around the world. Another notable moment in the OBC's history was its participation in the 2004 World Orchestra for Peace concert in Jerusalem, which brought together musicians from around the world to promote peace and understanding through music. The concert was conducted by Sir Georg Solti, and featured soloists such as Plácido Domingo and Maxim Vengerov. In addition to its international tours and collaborations, the OBC has also played an important role in promoting Catalan music and culture. The orchestra has premiered many works by Catalan composers, including Toldrà, Xavier Montsalvatge, and Salvador Brotons, among others. It has also played a key role in the annual Barcelona Obertura festival, which showcases the city's classical music scene. Over the years, the OBC has received many awards and accolades for its performances and recordings. In 1999, the orchestra was awarded the National Music Prize by the Spanish Ministry of Culture, in recognition of its contribution to the country's cultural heritage. In 2011, the OBC won the International Classical Music Award for its recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 2, conducted by Eiji Oue. Today, the OBC continues to be one of the leading classical music ensembles in Spain and beyond. Under the direction of Kazushi Ono, the orchestra performs a wide range of repertoire, from classical to contemporary, and continues to collaborate with some of the world's leading musicians and conductors. With its rich history and ongoing commitment to excellence, the OBC is a true cultural treasure of Catalonia and Spain.

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