Alicante conductor Josep Vicente led the Argovia Philharmonic, the renowned Swiss ensemble, on a four concert tour across Germany and Switzerland. The run began last week in Rosenheim, Bavaria, with all tickets snapped up in advance, underscoring the orchestra’s strong audience draw.
Vincent, chief conductor of ADDA Simfònica, is widely recognized for guiding major international orchestras and shaping programs that pair classic masterpieces with contemporary insights. In a program featuring works by Turina, Mozart and Beethoven, the Swiss ensemble will visit Aarau and Baden-Baden on February 23 and 26, continuing a respected touring schedule that week and reflecting the orchestra’s ongoing international presence.
The repertoire includes Turina’s Serenata and the Clarinet Concerto in A major KV 622 by Mozart, performed with clarinetist Patrick Messina, as well as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. These pieces showcase a blend of lyricism, drama and rhythmic vitality that the Argovia Philharmonic consistently delivers in concert halls across Central Europe.
Josep Vicente described the Argovia Philharmonic Orchestra as an intense, focused ensemble with a long-standing tradition and strong ties to European festivals in Germany and Switzerland. He praised its musicians for their dedication, technical prowess and vibrant engagement with audiences. The conductor also highlighted Patrick Messina as a standout collaborator, noting that working with the maestro was a memorable experience. Recent conversations about Mozart and collaboration with Riccardo Muti further enriched the project, fueling excitement about presenting this repertoire to the public.
joseph vincent INFORMATION
Orchestra
Established in 1963, the Argovia Philharmonic is a professional orchestra based in the Aargau canton of Switzerland. Known for its innovative approach to classical music, the ensemble presents a wide range of repertoire and is regularly invited to major venues such as Tonhalle Zurich and Kultur- und Kongresszentrum. The ensemble’s residency at Alte Reithalle Aarau, which opened in October 2021, has brought together international soloists and emerging talents. Since the 2020-21 season, Rune Bergmann has served as principal conductor, guiding artistic direction and concert programming with a steady and expressive hand.
Program
The Turina piece began as a string quartet in 1925 and was later expanded for orchestra in 1926. It received its orchestral premiere on January 3, 1927 at the Teatro de la Comedia under the baton of Bartolomé Pérez Casas with the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra. Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A major, written for Anton Stadler, is a cornerstone work that highlights the intimate conversation between soloist and orchestra. It comprises three movements and is celebrated as a seminal reference for wind players.
The Beethoven symphony on the program was completed in 1812 in honor of Moritz von Fries, an early patron known for his generosity to the arts. The piece gained public acclaim when Beethoven conducted a Vienna benefit concert in 1813 to support soldiers wounded in the Napoleonic wars, cementing its place in the standard orchestral repertoire.