The series “La Ruta” will recreate the “bakalao” years in the Valencian Community
The Bakalao Route began as a bold impulse that shook the Valencian landscape, riding a tide of countercultural energy through the night. Historical notes are scarce, yet the memory persists in references and the sense of a moment when music and youth collided in a powerful, unruly way. In this project, Alicante born musician and composer David Pont steps into that memory lane, translating the era into a living musical work. Pont positions the Bakalao movement within a broader cultural frame, where nightlife, experimentation, and a potent rhythm mix with the realities of the time to form a distinctive artistic expression.
The project opens with a twelve-minute piece as part of a broader program presented on a particular Friday at the Monte Carlo Theatre in Buñol, performed by a Music Ensemble that operates under the cultural management of the city. The goal is clear: reflect the Bakalao Route and the events it spawned, including both the sensational energy and the darker, troubling aspects such as traffic incidents and drug use, while underscoring the artistry that defined the period. Pont, a trained trombonist, explains that the work aims to illuminate the cultural phenomenon itself, not just the sensational headlines.
The composition is described as a creative exploration for a symphonic band, drawing on what the artist read and heard about the party and its environment. The instrumentation blends modern sounds with traditional symphonic elements, including piano, electric bass, drums, and a soprano voice, to build a sonic tapestry that can travel across genres while retaining a distinctly orchestral voice.
Pont has long been associated with major orchestral ensembles. The idea for this project began to take shape during the year 2020, as he sought to articulate a theme that friends and colleagues in the theatre world encouraged him to explore. The initial concept gradually expanded, inviting a larger cast to participate in order to achieve a richer, more expansive musical statement. The resulting score synthesizes rhythmic vitality with melodic clarity, a balance that aims to make the party-era sound comprehensible within a concert hall setting.
As the series unfolds, the plan is to bring La Ruta to diverse audiences and performance contexts. The intention is to present a complete and immersive experience that lets listeners feel as if they are stepping into the discotheque atmosphere, the late-night energy, and the communal spirit that defined a generation. The work also preserves a critical sensibility, acknowledging the era’s excesses while celebrating its creative output and cultural impact.
The musical approach to Bakalao is described as bold and transformative. The ensemble faces the challenge of translating a club-driven sound into a symphonic language, yet the aim is to ensure the music carries the same sense of motion and exhilaration that characterized the original nights. The premiere features the Valencia Municipal Symphony Band alongside soloists from major regional orchestras, highlighting the collaboration between institutions and the performers who bring the project to life. A notable moment within the piece introduces a car engine rev, a sonic nod to the era and a moment of reverence for the generation it represents, subtly linking memory and music within a contemporary frame.
The overall concept of La Ruta is to encapsulate a wide spectrum of the Bakalao experience. It captures the disco ambience, the crowded parking areas, and the heightened celebration that marked those years, translating that energy into a brave, forward-looking musical language for wind and brass ensembles. Whether listeners embrace or resist the interpretation, the intention is to offer a compelling musical translation that respects its origins while inviting new audiences to engage with the history and sound of the period.
After the premiere, the project’s creator envisions continuing to share La Ruta across different venues and with various performing groups. The aim is to provide ongoing opportunities for audiences to enjoy the work in settings that suit a range of concert formats, from intimate chamber programs to large-scale ensemble presentations. The enduring priority remains clear: to keep the memory alive through music that resonates with both nostalgia and innovation, inviting listeners to experience a pivotal moment in Valencian cultural history through a contemporary artistic lens.