Torrevieja Symphony Orchestra Kicks Off the Season on a High Note

Finally, the moment had arrived.... On October 10 at 7:00 p.m., an audience eager for good music took their seats in the Auditorio Internacional, knowing that in just a moment they would witness something truly special. Every concert is an event in itself, but this time the atmosphere was somehow particularly electrifying, and what aroused the audience’s excitement in a special way was the opening of the concert season by the Torrevieja Symphony Orchestra and, undoubtedly, the opportunity to hear L. van Beethoven’s (1770–1827) most popular work, his Fifth Symphony.

The Torrevieja Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the distinguished guest conductor Maestro José Miguel Rodilla, is kicking off another concert season, this time devoted largely to the music of L. van Beethoven, in honor of the 200th anniversary of the great classical composer’s death, which falls in 2027. The conductor, well known to regular attendees of the OST’s concerts from his highly successful performance last May, presented an impressively appealing program, opening the evening with Beethoven’s “Egmont” Overture. The work, originally composed as the score for K.W. Goethe’s tragedy, is rarely performed in its entirety today; yet the overture stands on its own as a highly popular piece. Powerful and expressive, written in a style similar to the 5th Symphony, the Overture was performed by the orchestra, masterfully conducted by Maestro Rodilla. With clear and precise hand and body gestures, the artist shared his interpretive vision with the musicians. It was a wonderful performance!!!

Scheduled between two "Beethoven classics" was a performance of the "Cello Concerto" by the French Romantic composer Edouard Lalo (1823–1892), a composition that, unfortunately, remains somewhat unjustly overshadowed by his famous violin “Spanish Symphony.” However, the superb performance by the magnificent soloist—cellist David Apellaniz—proved to be enchanting. The piece, full of vitality, melancholy, and Romantic ideas, perfectly reflects D. Apellaniz’s playing style. An artist possessing superb technique, temperament, and exceptional musicality, he proved to be a magnificent performer —an interpreter of the composer’s ideas—impressing with his passionate playing and fiery temperament, which contrasted with the cantilena’s song-like quality and effusive melodiousness. The strength of this interpretation lay in the exceptionally skillful balance between rhythm and texture. In short, an art of interpretation of the highest order. Apellaniz brought out a wealth of detail from E. Lalo’s work, and it was clear that he was also committed to ensuring the orchestra could make the most of this music’s strengths. And that is exactly what happened. Maestro Rodilla conducted the OST, which was in excellent form, with sensitivity and professionalism, in an expressive manner, demonstrating his ability to find common ground in the numerous dialogues with the solo instrument. He was present but not overpowering, giving the music space to speak for itself. After a thunderous round of applause from the audience, David Apellaniz performed G. Cassado’s “Preludio Fantasia” as an encore. A beautiful performance!!!

And after the intermission...? The eagerly awaited performance of the “symphony of all symphonies”—the “Fifth”

Beethoven’s—a work of extraordinary appeal. The symphony’s popularity is so immense that, according to statistics, it is performed about 500 times a year worldwide. It would seem that such a well-known and popular work, in order to truly captivate listeners, must bring a certain freshness—something new—to the performance. Maestro Rodilla interpreted the “Fifth” in the classical tradition, as a masterpiece of drama, faithfully following the score..... without a score—from memory!!! The “Fifth” is one of those works that simply cannot be performed without emotion. This element alone was enough to impress with a performance full of depth, incredible energy, passion, and emotion, as well as romantic inspiration.

The OST’s performance of the “Fifth,” conducted by Maestro Rodilla, featured perfect synchronization among the various sections of the orchestra; in addition to the rhythmic marches, we were able to appreciate the subtleties of its lyricism. In short, the audience in Torrevieja witnessed a magnificent performance, which was rightly met with thunderous applause.