Pastor Arriazu, Koldo (1947)

Koldo Karmelo Pastor Arriazu was born in Pamplona on January 1, 1947. He began his musical apprenticeship at the Pablo Sarasate Conservatory, although he finished studies in Counterpoint and Fugue at the Superior Conservatory of San Sebastián and in Harmony and Composition, Music Education and Choral Direction at the Superior Conservatory of Zaragoza. Complementary to his academic training, he also pursued studies in composition and the sociology of music with Agustín González Acilu and Ramón Barce.

A member of the Iruñeko Taldea-Pamplona Group, he has worked intensively as a composer with musical works for theatres, symphonies, bands, choirs, vocals and accompaniment, instrumental ensembles, piano, mixed media and incidental music for film.

On the occasion of Navarre Day, the Baluarte Foundation commissioned Koldo Pastor to compose Beethoven Irudiak. Kapritxo Sinfonikoa. This work is based on Beethoven's 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th symphonies, as those had made the biggest impact on the composer. Not just limiting himself to copying musical fragments by the German composer, it is indeed a very personal work motivated by Koldo Pastor's admiration for Beethoven.

Recording date

21 to 25 September 2020.

Performers

Orquesta Sinfónica de Navarra

The current Navarre Symphony Orchestra was founded by Mr. Pablo Sarasate in 1879, which makes it the oldest active orchestral group in Spain. At present, it is part of the Baluarte Foundation, an institution financed mainly by the Government of Navarre. As such, it is the official orchestra of the Autonomous Community. In its almost one hundred and forty years of existence, the Pablo Sarasate Symphony Orchestra has performed in the main auditoriums, opera seasons and festivals, both in Spain and abroad. On several occasions its performances have proven to be particularly relevant at the Théâtre des Champs Elysées and the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, as well as other important European auditoriums in the concert tour organised by the Universal Music label. As the preferred orchestra of composer and violinist Pablo Sarasate, its recording of the entire work of this Navarrese composer for Naxos, with violinist Tianwa Yang, has been unanimously praised by international critics. Also with this label, the Navarre Symphony Orchestra undertook a recording project with the Polish conductor Antoni Wit, the principal conductor until the 2017-2018 season. The Navarre Symphony Orchestra presents an annual season of concerts to the public of Navarre in the cities of Pamplona and Tudela, in the Baluarte Auditorium and in the Gaztambide Theater, respectively. It also organises significant social and educational activities throughout the Autonomous Community.

Manuel Hernández-Silva

Director

He graduated with honours from the Vienna Higher Conservatory, under professors Reinchard Schwarz and Georg Mark. In his graduation year, he won the Forum Jünger Künstler conducting competition organised by the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, conducting this group at the Konzerthaus in Austria’s capital and at the Brucknerhaus in the city of Linz.

He has been the principal conductor of the Córdoba Orchestra, principal guest conductor of the Simón Bolívar Orchestra of Caracas, and musical director of the Andalucía Youth Orchestra. He is currently the principal and artistic director of the Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra and the Navarre Symphony Orchestra.

Maestro Hernández Silva also dedicates himself intensely to teaching, giving international courses in conducting and performance, as well as numerous conferences.

He has also been a guest conductor with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Prague Radio, the Israel Symphony Orchestra, the Seoul Philharmonic (Korea), the Nord Czech Philharmonic (Czech Republic), the Karlsbad Symphony (Czech Republic), the Olomouc Philharmonic (Czech Republic), the Rheinische Philharmonie, the BIel Symphony Orchestra, the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, the Chilean National Orchestra, the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra, the Bogota Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico, the Caracas Symphony Orchestra, the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra (Venezuela), the Wuppertal Symphony Orchestra (Germany) and the Janacek Philharmonic (Czech Republic). Across the nation, he is a regular guest of practically all Spanish orchestras.

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