Concert Ensemble, fifty years of musical excellence

Margarita Berenguer He took over the presidency and remained in that position until his death in 2004, being replaced by Pilar Poveda, which continues today. with names like Andrés de León, Fanny Gamir, Fernando Gallego or Vicente Espadas, Artist who dares to think that Alicante’s big names in classical music could be a stop for solo or chamber music.

And his enthusiasm was contagious. Óscar had agreed to become Esplá permanent honorary president and months before the first concert, the Director had more members than the number of seats. for 45 founding members and 21 patrons More than 1,000 attended. A figure reached in 1976 1,520 regular members and 843 waiting list, reaching more than 1,200 in later years. And in the first row was the painter Xavier Soler, who started drawing the covers of the posters from the first concert because he drew on the back of the little book while listening to it in the stalls. A collection of small pieces that become a real treasure for the asset.

“At that time the musical offer in Alicante was completely absent”, he assures Alfonso Ramon-Borja Berengueroverflowing with musical notes thanks to his family and now the chairman of the newly formed group, Concert Association Foundation. “There were concert ensembles, but in the big cities, today Bilbao and Alicante are references, but others have disappeared”.

There are nearly a thousand concerts held during this half century. Andres Segovia The principal took the stage with his guitar in December 1972and she did it for free like Victoria de los Ángeles to support this project. The reaction of the partners to the arrival of the musician was such that a hundred spectators on stagearound the artist. He was so pleased that he would return anyway.

they opened the curtain Arthur Rubinstein, Montserrat Caballé, Nikita Magaloff, Smetana Quartet, Elizabeth Schawarzkoff, Alicia de la Rocha, the Guarneri Quartet, Narciso Yepes, Gyorgy Sandor, Yehudi Menuhim, Jean Pierre Rampal or more recently, Maria Joao Pires, Christian Zaharias, Renaud Capuçon, Stradivari Quartet, Andras Schiff or Joshua Bell.

Quality as the sole target has taken its place on the roadmap and continues to do so. And because of this, the Concert Society began to sound better than ever before in the countries where its heroes returned. Kind of acting in Alicante a prize for interpreters and a luxury for spectators, besides being an international showcase for the city, it is difficult to achieve with other initiatives.

But bringing in the big names in music wasn’t enough. In 1985, the Alicante Concert Ensemble Interpretation Award was established to encourage young talents. CAM and Outstanding Music Conservatory Óscar Esplaand in 1992 an agreement was reached with the Director to coordinate the actions of Valencian Orchestra in the city. A continued presence until the opening of ADDA.

Thank you for this half-century march. Among them, Gold Medal of Fine Arts from the Royal Academy of San Carlos In 2006; most Alicante Óscar Espla Conservatory Gold Medal In 1990; three awards INFORMATION IS IMPORTANTHe won the University of Alicante XX Maisonnave Award in 1985, 1992 and 2012 and in 2021.

Anecdotes about the sound of music

An unnamed international soprano had to be removed from the police station; some Russian musicians lost all their documents; In the 1981 coup, a Civil Government car had to transport musicians performing in Alicante to Madrid. In another case, a pianist left the stage because his cell phones did not stop ringing, despite later persuading him to continue. soprano Jesse Norman He also threatened to leave if there was no absolute silence.

Many anecdotes, because one of the hallmarks of the Concert Society is the entertainment and care of its guests. Ramón-Borja, a famous baritone Julius Drake pianist For his concert in Alicante. “There you have to go,” replied the famous musician. “This somewhat sums up the warmth of the Alicante audience towards the artists. Excellent acoustics of the principal and profession of interest, pleasure and love for musicians who visit us. Some are already friends.

On another occasion, Rafael Beltrán attended a concert given by the pianist. Andras Schiff in Salzburg. “Raphael told him on the street that his Schumann was the best, and he said no, the shrimps from Alicante were the best.”

looking to the future

For the first program of the Concert Society one million pesetas, from a grant of 100,000 from the Ministry of Information and Tourism. Since then, the Fundación Sociedad de Conciertos has had members responding with their fees since its creation last year, and now with the new patronage system.

His desire to reach a wider audience led him to organize “well-received” concerts dedicated to groups, and his work in educating young people, scholarships for under 25 accessing concerts «and this encourages them to seek a high level of musical culture». They also adapted to the new times with a new website and social networks.

Concert Ensemble «is an example to follow and complete» confirms Alfonso Ramón-Borja. “We are ready to fight to protect it.”