JOSÉ ANTONIO SAINZ ALFARO

JoJosé Antonio Sáinz Alfaro took over the position of conductor of the "Orfeón Donostiarra" in 1987. In this period, José Antonio Sainz renewed the choir with young voices, maintaining the high musical level that the preceding conductors had reached.

We can mention the following star performances:

• Requiem, by J. Brahms, at the Sagra Musicale Umbra in Perugia (Italy), with Lorin Maazel and the London Symphony Orchestra (1987).
• 9th Symphonie , by L.V. Beethoven, at the Great Opera Theatre in Rome (Italy), with Lorin Maazel and the London Symphony Orchestra (1987).
• La Atlantida, by M. de Falla, inaugurating concert for the National Music Auditorium in Madrid, with Jesús López Cobos and the Spanish National Orchestra (1988).
• Mors et Vita, by C. Gounod, first world recording, with Michel Plasson and the Toulouse Capitol National Orchestra (1992).
• 2nd Simphonye "Resurrection", by G. Mahler, at the Expo'92 in Seville, with Lorin Maazel and the Pittsburgh Symphonic Orchestra (1992).
• 2nd Simphonye"Resurrection", by G. Mahler, at the National Auditorium in Madrid, with Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (1993).
• 9th Symphonie, by L. Beethoven, at the National Auditorium in Madrid, with Michael Tilson Thomas and the London Philharmonic Orchestra (1995).

Under his conduction in 1997, it was commemorated the hundred-year of Orfeón during which more than sixty concerts were performed concluding in Berlin on December 30 and 31 with the German Capital Philharmonic and maestro Claudio Abbado.

The following are some other memorable concerts of the centennial year:

• Oedipus Rex, by I. Stravinsky, at the National Auditorium in Madrid. with Esa Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

• G. Mahler 2nd Symphonie "Resurrección", at the La Coruña Conference Centre, with Víctor Pablo Pérez and the Galicia and Tenerife Symphonic Orchestras.
• Missa Solemnis in Sol Maggiore, by L. Cherubini, and Quattro Pezzi Sacri, by G.Verdi, with Ricardo Muti and the Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala, in the San Sebastián Musical Fortnight and the Santander International Festival.
• G. Mahler 2nd Symphonie "Resurrección", with Claudio Abbado and the Berliner Philarmoniker Orchester. National Auditorium in Madrid.
• Reinauguration of the Teatro Real in Madrid, with the representation of "La vida breve", by Manuel Fallaren.

After its hundred-year, the choir throws into international performances:

• "Carmina Burana" from Carl Orff with Victor Pablo Pérez and the Symphonic of Galicia in six German cities: Karlsruhe, Colonia, Düsseldrof, Hamburgo, Wilhelmshaven y Hanover (1998).
• Presence at Salzburg Festival with six performances of Faust Condemnation of Berlioz and world first performance of the Choral Symphony no. 5 Requiem, Bardo and Nimanakaya of Philip Glass, conducted by Sylvain Cambreling and with the Sttalkapelle of Berlín (1999).
• "Verdi's Requiem" with Claudio Abbado together with the Philharmonic of Berlin, choirs of the Swedish Radio and the Chamber Choir E. Ericson (2001). Such recordings were recorded in a CD nominated to Grammy Awards under best choir performance category.
• Part in the triennial of Rhurh (Germany) with the Choral Symphony no. 5 Requiem Bardo and Nirmanakaya de Philip Glass, under conduction of John Axelrod and the Philharmonic of Duisburg (2002).
• "G. Mahler 2nd Symphonie, conducted by Claudio Abbado together with the orchestra created by him for Lucerne’s Festival (2003).

• Participation at the Rhur’s Triennial, together with the “Orfeón Pamplonés” with the Grande Messe des Morts of Berlioz and Faust Condemnation (2004).
• G. Mahler 2nd Symphonie with the Toulouse’s Capitol National Orchestra and Joseph Swensen in Toulouse (2005).
• Beethoven’s Ninth with Claudio Abbado, Simón Bolivar Orchestra and the Schola Cantorum from Caracas in Venezuela’s capital (2006).
• Participation at Saint Denis Festival in Paris with G. Mahler 2nd Symphonie, together with France’s National Orchestra under the conduction of Paavo Järvi (2006).
• Beethoven’s Ninth with Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra at the Maestranza de Seville, La Plaza Mayor in Madrid and the Gardens of Palacio del Festival de Peralada (2006).
• G. Mahler 2nd Symphonie with the Berliner Philharmoniker and Sir Simon Rattle at the Musical Festival of Canarias (2007).