The Spanish String Orchestra, Concerto Málaga, was founded in 1996 by a group of young musicians from Andalucía. The orchestra gave its first public performance in March of the following year in the “Sala de Columnas del Palacio de la Aduana” in Málaga. Six violins, three violas, two cellos, a double bass and harpsichord form this chamber ensemble which is dedicated to the study and interpretation of the repertoire for strings ranging from the XVII century to the present, with a particular interest in Spanish music.
Since its debut the orchestra has participated in cultural programmes organised by institutions such as U.N.E.S.C.O, Cajamadrid, Cajasur, Cajamar, Cajagranada, Cajasol, Circuito Andaluz de Música. It has also worked with the provincial governments of Almería, Granada, Jaén and Málaga, among many others. At an International level, the orchestra has toured successfully on the Adriatic Coast, in Germany and Holland and has attended, among others, the Zadar International Music Festival (Croatia) and the Euriade Festival (Holland).
As a member of the European Chamber Music Teacher’s Association, ECMTA, the ensemble works in the educational field of chamber music, attracting new audiences and designing a range of educational programmes. Furthermore, through appearances on the popular TV show “El Conciertazo” from Spain’s national broadcaster, TVE (Television Española), the ensemble has facilitated the rediscovery of many string music pieces. In 2008, Concerto Málaga was appointed Orchestra-in-residence in County Donegal, Ireland; Concerto Malaga is the first ever Spanish orchestra to promote cultural and pedagogical activities in an English-speaking country.
Concerto Málaga has played with artists such as Claudi Arimany, María Luisa Cantos, Joaquín Clerch, Alexander Hülshoff, Ramón Jaffé, Yunah Lee, David Martinez, Massimo Mercelli, Benjamin Moreno, Grace Nikae. It also maintains regular artistic collaboration with international soloists like the violinist, Mariana Sirbu (Trio di Milano), the cellist, Mihai Dancila (Beethoven Quartet Roma), the pianist, Andreas Frolich (Mendelssohn Trio Berlin) and the guitarist, Pepe Romero.
Currently, Concerto Malaga is offering its concert season in Malaga, the capital of the Costa del Sol, focusing on the CIVE “The Four Season's Cycle”. It is also resident orchestra of the “Forum Internacional de Alto Perfeccionamiento Musical del Sur de Europa” (FIAPMSE). Since 2003, the Italian maestro, Massimo Paris, has been the Artistic Director and Conductor of the group.
Maestro Paris is a conductor and composer; a renowned soloist and chamber musician; he is also a founder member of the “Quartetto Stradivari” and since 1978 has been principal viola with the legendary ensemble I Musici.
David Kirwan
CONCERT REVIEWS
“La oración del torero” of Joaquín Turina...their expressiveness was explosive”
Eusebio Rioja
“…with a new configuration, they have returned to my great pleasure with their audacity in the programming, their sincerity, for the freshness that comes out of their interpretations…”
José Antonio Lacárcel
“…the string ensemble, conducted by the prestigious Italian maestro Massimo Paris, gave a full demonstration of their virtues as instrumentalists with a superb recital…”.
José Luís Ramos
“…In Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater the orchestra lit the sonorous architecture that supported the voices of the singers with solidity. The Baroque dressed purpose, of the new hands that the public and the scores claim”
Pablo Bujalance
“…the Vivaldi concert for strings in A major, which the ensemble offered in brilliant form with sublime phrasing, resembled the best interpretations of the Venetian composer by I Musici…”
Luís Hernández Jiménez-Casquet
MUSICIANS
José Manuel Gil, concertmaster
Elisa Prieto, violin
Javier Navascués, violin
Marina Picazo, violin
Alejandro Manzano, violin
Orsolya Szabó, violin
Jing Shao, Viola
Carlos Picazo, Viola
Sergio Fernández, Viola
Víctor Yélamo, cello
Peter Sebestyen, cello
Sophia Scheifler, double bass
Juan Pablo Gamarro, harpsichord
