Dear friends,

Our festival is celebrating its 18th anniversary; it has officially come of age. Fortunately, this milestone allows us to say that the festival is now firmly established, thanks to the tremendous support of our sponsors and our loyal audience. My first words of gratitude therefore go to all of them for their generous contribution, whether financial, logistical, or simply moral support.

This year’s theme is The Seasons. The seasons shape our lives and, naturally, they have always been present in the artistic world, inspiring deep interest and reflection. Throughout the history of music, countless works have been created around this theme, interpreting the emotions and experiences that Nature and its cycles awaken in us. It is a truly fascinating, mysterious, and profoundly inspiring phenomenon.

Choosing this theme also invites us to reflect on the changes affecting the natural cycles around us, on climate change, and on the importance of caring for Nature, which shelters us and makes life possible. Nature fills us with joy and provides much of the very essence of life itself. Through different interpretations and perspectives, we will enjoy and reflect upon this phenomenon, always guided by the language of Music.

This year’s programme features works inspired by the seasons, ranging from masterpieces as celebrated as Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, which will open the festival with the outstanding violinist Leticia Moreno, and Beethoven’s Spring Sonata, performed by Mikchail Spivak, to less frequently heard works by composers such as Philip Glass, Grundman and Barber. For the closing concert, we will present Spring and Summer from Joseph Haydn’s The Seasons, a spectacular and rarely performed work that will bring together the festival orchestra and our participatory choir.

As always, the festival remains committed to artistic excellence, welcoming both internationally renowned musicians and performers from our own region who have, over the years, established themselves as outstanding professionals. It is especially gratifying to see how some of the students who attended the festival in its early editions now return as professional musicians, many of them from our town and neighbouring communities. We will also showcase emerging talents, young artists at the beginning of their careers, who will perform alongside our guest musicians.

Our aim is to bring this artistic excellence closer to audiences who may not have the opportunity to attend the major concert series presented at Valencia’s leading music venues. We seek to make Music accessible to everyone in its purest and most intimate form: chamber music.

At the same time, we invite young musicians and students who dream of pursuing a professional career in music to join us, make music alongside distinguished masters, and absorb not only their knowledge and experience but also their human qualities. For this reason, we will once again host the Young Chamber Music Talents Workshop Course, whose participants never fail to amaze us with their talent and enthusiasm.

As every year, we also invite everyone who would like to join us on stage to take part through singing—one of the most wonderful ways to experience Music. Our participatory choir will once again be part of the closing concert, prepared with the expertise and good humour of José Ramón Tárrega, “Piru,” together with three outstanding young emerging vocal soloists.

As a gesture of solidarity with the victims of war, the closing concert will include a performance of Gardens of Love by the Lebanese composer Houtaf Khoury, who participated in the festival in 2015. Having witnessed the terrible reality of war at close hand, he has asked us to perform his music as a symbol of resilience and hope.

We hope these festival days will be a true celebration of great Music, filled with sensitivity, reflection, and shared experiences. There will be concerts, talks, a cultural walking tour organised in collaboration with the Local History Workshop, a gastronomic concert in partnership with Restaurante Castillo and its chef Eduardo Frechina, and many other activities.

Everyone is welcome. We invite you to join us and to share this experience with your friends and family.

Wishing you a wonderful summer filled with great music. We look forward to seeing you in July.

Warm hugs,
Joan Enric Lluna