Conductor Txemi Etxebarria, at the helm of the Philips Symfonie Orkest, will offer a very special concert on May 2nd at San Pedro Parish in Bergara, his hometown. This event holds deep personal significance for the conductor, as it represents a return to the origins of his musical career, in front of friends and neighbors from his village.
“"It's going to be a very special concert. Doing it in my town, with neighbors and friends in the audience, makes it something unique."
This concert will be the closing act of the tour for the ensemble that Etxebarria has directed for over two years. A journey that will begin at the Arriaga Theatre in Bilbao, make a stop in Donostia, specifically at Musikene, where the conductor will also give a masterclass, and culminate in Bergara. Etxebarria recalled that it was in San Pedro Parish, at just 11 years old and with a French horn, that he gave his first recital, a moment that resonates strongly today.
The Philips Symfonie Orkest, based in Eindhoven, comprises over 80 musicians and operates with a semi-professional structure, positioning itself as one of the “largest and most recognized” semi-professional symphony orchestras in the Netherlands. Originally formed among employees of the Philips company, the group brings together performers who share a common passion for classical music.
The tour also marks a milestone in the orchestra's recent history, as it represents its debut beyond Dutch borders under Etxebarria's direction. They will be accompanied by the Bilbao Choral Society, led by Enrique Azurza, and soprano Estíbaliz Sánchez. Together, they will present a program of great artistic demand, including Francis Poulenc's luminous Gloria and Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10, two prominent 20th-century works.
The concert is part of the 140th anniversary celebrations of the Bilbao Choral Society, an anniversary it shares with the University of Deusto and the Chamber of Commerce. This triple celebration has boosted the tour, and in Bergara, the event takes on a distinct emotional dimension, becoming a meaningful reunion for the conductor in front of a largely familiar audience.
