Alicante’s ADDA Auditorium opens its symphonic season with a signature return from the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. The renowned ensemble marks its 25th anniversary with a celebratory North Iberian tour, kicking off in Alicante and continuing through the Iberian Peninsula. The concert is led by the acclaimed Mitsuko Uchida, a pianist and conductor who has long been associated with the orchestra and its artistic ambitions.
The Mahler Chamber Orchestra brings a two-city recital to Spain as part of its milestone year. The Alicante program starts a broader journey that will take the ensemble to Lisbon, Barcelona and San Sebastián, highlighting the group’s enduring collaboration with Uchida and its ongoing links to the Iberian music scene. The 25th anniversary tour underlines the orchestra’s enduring commitment to presenting intimate chamber-orchestra experiences on major stages across the region.
The collaboration between the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Mitsuko Uchida began in Spain in 2013, a country where the pianist first joined the orchestra as an artistic partner in 2016. They later performed together here again in 2020, and now embark on a fourth collaboration in a return that mirrors a homecoming moment described in coverage by major outlets. Uchida and the MCO have cultivated a shared artistic language through years of performances across Europe.
The repertoire centers on Mozart, with Uchida guiding the orchestra from the piano. She positions herself at the heart of the ensemble, delivering performances characterized by the clarity and spontaneity typical of chamber music. The program frequently follows a trusted format: two Mozart piano concertos presented and conducted by Uchida at the opening and closing, with a solo orchestral piece placed between these works. The concert typically includes Mozart’s Concertos Nos. 25 and 27, along with a chamber symphony and a work by Schoenberg, creating a dynamic arc that marries classical elegance with modern sensitivity.
The session at ADDA will feature the Mahler Chamber Orchestra in its signature blend of versatility and precision. The program showcases the orchestra’s ability to blend intimate, chamber-like textures with expansive, orchestral color, a hallmark of its sound that has earned praise from audiences and critics alike. The ensemble’s leadership and Uchida’s pianistic eloquence promise a recital that balances bold interpretive decisions with meticulous refinement.
Additional context for the anniversary engagement reveals plans for further appearances by the MCO across key Iberian venues. After the Alicante stop, the musicians will travel to Lisbon on January 9, Barcelona on January 11, and Donostia on January 13. These performances showcase the group’s ongoing relationship with prominent European stages and its commitment to presenting a diverse range of repertoire during the celebratory year. News outlets have highlighted the collaboration between Uchida and the MCO as a defining feature of the season, noting that their joint appearances constitute a strong return to familiar concert grounds and a renewed conversation with audiences about chamber music in a contemporary setting.
In related programming, interest remains high around the ensemble’s broader artistic projects. Plans in Spain include a new collaboration with conductor Pablo Heras-Married on a staged version of a well-known puppet opera and related orchestral concert works marking significant anniversaries. This partnership is anticipated to bring fresh interpretations to classic works while maintaining the ensemble’s hallmark emphasis on ensemble transparency and textual clarity. The ambition is to present these pieces with a modern sensibility that resonates with both long-time followers and new listeners, illustrating how a veteran orchestra continues to evolve without losing its essential voice.
On Sunday, the calendar also features a separate concert at ADDA, presenting a different tradition within the region. The Alicante Cordá Federation Orchestra Polsada Mar i Muntanyagoverning Jose Antonio Pastor Ruiz will perform its second concert of the year at midday at ADDA. This ensemble brings together local folk orchestras and instrumental groups from across the province, preserving regional musical identities while contributing to a wider cultural conversations. Since its establishment in 2002, the federation has produced numerous concerts, fostering a loyal audience base for traditional and contemporary performances alike.