Concert Ensemble, fifty years of musical excellence
The Alicante Concert Ensemble marks its fifty-year journey with an evening that celebrated the finest in chamber music. On Tuesday, May 9 at 20:00, the Alicante Main Theatre hosted a recital that paired renowned soprano Barbara Hendricks with pianist Roland Pöntinen. The program offered an intimate voyage through a carefully chosen repertoire, tracing the lineage of baroque and romantic expression from Bach and Monteverdi to Purcell, Kapsberger, and Ravel, inviting audiences to experience music in a concentrated, emotionally honest setting.
Over five decades, the Alicante Concert Ensemble has embodied a standard of musical excellence, drawing long-time patrons and curious newcomers alike to witness performances that blend technical mastery with expressive storytelling. Hendricks’s appearance stood as a high point within a program designed to highlight the ensemble’s enduring tradition of high-caliber collaborations and refined musical dialogue among vocalists and instrumentalists.
Barbara Hendricks has earned wide international recognition and a distinguished array of awards. She received the Prince of Asturias Art Award in 2000 and has graced the stages of premier opera houses around the world, from Paris to New York and from London’s Royal Opera House to Milan. Her collaborations span esteemed conductors and directors, contributing to performances remembered for artistic depth and tonal clarity. Her repertoire covers a broad spectrum of operatic roles, with performances that have become touchstones within the vocal arts. Beyond the opera stage, her work reflects a commitment to humanitarian and cultural initiatives that reach beyond music. She has participated in ceremonies marking international milestones and has used her platform to advocate for peace and education. Her influence extends to refugee support and cultural diplomacy, with formal roles and partnerships that promote relief, education, and reconciliation. Initiatives associated with her include programs and foundations focused on after-school education for young refugees and peace-building efforts in conflict areas, underscoring a belief in the arts as a catalyst for positive social change. Acknowledgments arise from collaborations with the Barbara Hendricks Foundation for Peace and Reconciliation, the Refugee Education Foundation, and UNHCR involvement.
Beyond concert halls, Hendricks’s advocacy work reaches into international humanitarian efforts. Her partnerships with refugee organizations and global agencies reinforce the idea that art can intersect with real-world impact. The artist’s legacy thus encompasses not only memorable performances but also enduring programs aimed at improving the lives of displaced people, fostering dialogue, and expanding access to education and reconciliation. This broader scope positions Hendricks as a figure who embodies artistic excellence alongside principled leadership in humanitarian causes. Attribution: UNHCR, Barbara Hendricks Foundation for Peace and Reconciliation, Refugee Education Foundation.