The Mediterranean Foundation has organized a festive Christmas concert titled Four Season. The event takes place on Saturday evening, December 16, at 20:00, at the foundation’s Alicante headquarters, located at Avda. Doctor Gadea, 1. The recital features performers from the Mediterranean Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of Carlos Santo, who also serves as harpsichordist for the program.
The concert’s repertoire blends traditional baroque masterworks with a seasonal centerpiece. Audiences will hear pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, Benedetto Marcello, and Antonio Vivaldi. The program includes Bach’s Cantata BWV 82 Ich habe genug and Bach’s Oboe Concerto in D minor, BWV 935, paired with Marcello’s Oboe Concerto in D minor. These selections promise a rich tapestry of baroque color, expressive lines, and intricate ensemble interplay.
The evening unfolds in two parts. The second half centers on Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, a cycle of four concertos that evokes the changing moods and landscapes of the year, from spring’s renewal to winter’s stillness. This thematic thread provides a cohesive arc that showcases the ensemble’s historical performance sensibilities alongside vibrant, contemporary energy.
Soloists featured in the concert include Anna Margrethe Nilsen on violin, Daniel Rodríguez on oboe, and Maximo Zarzo as a baritone soloist. Carlos Santo will conduct the orchestra and also perform on the harpsichord, adding a distinctive timbre to the ensemble’s overall sound. The collaboration of these artists highlights the chamber orchestra’s philosophy of blending technical precision with expressive storytelling.
The Mediterranean Chamber Orchestra, founded in 2011, brings together musicians with backgrounds in renowned international ensembles. Its core repertoire emphasizes music from the 17th to the 19th centuries, with a particular focus on Bach, whose works are presented with attention to historical style paired with lively modern interpretation. This approach aims to deliver performances that feel authentic while remaining vividly engaging for today’s audiences.
Violinist Anna Margrethe Nilsen hails from Norway and pursued studies at the Manhattan School of Music, collaborating with notable mentors and artists in New York. Her career includes appearances as a soloist and guest concertmaster with several orchestras around the world, contributing a refined voice to the concert’s string section. Daniel Rodríguez, an oboist born in Plasencia, studied at Höchschule für Musik and serves as the principal oboe of the Freiburg im Breisgau ADDA Simfònica, bringing a refined, expressive oboe language to the ensemble. Maximo Zarzo, a Valencian baritone, trained at the José Iturbi Conservatory and the Oscar Esplá Higher Conservatory, and he is a member of the Intermezzo Chorus at the Royal Theatre and the Valencian Choir, enriching the concert with vocal color and stylistic versatility.
This Christmas concert promises to be more than a showcase of exceptional musicians. It offers an engaging and satisfying program that balances familiar classics with period-accurate performances, providing audiences with a meaningful cultural experience during the holiday season. The event invites listeners to enjoy masterful playing, nuanced interpretations, and a memorable musical journey through the masters of the Baroque era and the timeless Four Seasons cycle.
tickets
Tickets for the concert are priced at ten euros and can be purchased through the foundation’s website or at the box office. The official site is listed for reference as part of the event materials, with purchase options available online and in person at the venue.