Music of the World

Music of the World is the title proposed by the Municipal Symphony Orchestra for this first concert to be organised by Patrimonio Nacional at the Royal Collections Gallery.

Under this title, several musical compositions are brought together: from the melodies of Tchaikovsky to the popular Gran Vía by Chueca and Valverde, the soundtracks of Morricone - which are so familiar to us - or the almost magical sonorousness of La leyenda del beso (The Legend of the Kiss).

The concert is thus a kindred spirit to the Royal Collections Gallery, where the diverse and multidisciplinary nature of different arts is on display. Along with paintings, sculptures, gold and silverware, and tapestries, we find essential examples of the history of musical patronage.

We at Patrimonio Nacional welcome you to this space - The Grand Terrace - which we hope will be a meeting point for a wide range of artistic expressions. We thank the Municipal Symphony Orchestra for their generous collaboration in this initiative.

MUNICIPAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF MADRID

.At the start of the 20th century, and at the initiative of the Count of Peñalver, the Municipal Symphony Orchestra performed for the first time at the Teatro Español on 2nd June 1909.

The 19th century was a time when artistic and social movements in favour of popular musical culture were flourishing. As a result of this impulse, many Spanish cities formed successful wind ensembles that performed at both public and official events. From 1836 onwards, various nobles and political figures of the city submitted numerous proposals for the creation of a Madrid Municipal Orchestra, but none gained ground.

In 1907, the mayor of Madrid, Nicolás de Peñalver y Zamora, Count of Peñalver, accompanied by several councillors, travelled to Valencia. There they listened, spellbound, for the first time to the Valencian Municipal Orchestra. On his return to Madrid, he proposed the creation of a Madrid Symphony Orchestra under the City Council. The Count’s proposal was submitted and approved on 4th August 1908 by a huge majority. After months of rehearsals and adaptations of works, the Orchestra was presented at the Teatro Español on 2nd June 1909, achieving a resounding success which was later repeated at the Teatro Real, the Paseo de Recoletos, and other venues.

The musicians in charge of the Orchestra’s debut were Ricao Villa and José Garay. The two worked together on its unique composition, which includes bass strings with cellos and double basses, as well as the harp and the complete families of instruments (woodwind, brass, percussion, etc.). With this criterion, the sound ensemble, in addition to being complete and balanced, offers great expressive and timbral possibilities.

In 2009, the CD-book "100 years of the Municipal Symphony Orchestra of Madrid. The Past and Present of its Sound” was published to commemorate its first concert at the Teatro Español. It was a tribute to all the maestros, conductors and professors who had made the first hundred years of this musical institution possible.

Currently, Jan Cober is in charge of the Municipal Symphony Orchestra of Madrid. This musical group performs various concerts at the National Auditorium, the Municipal Conference Centre, and the gazebo in El Retiro Park, in addition to other concerts in districts and as part of the cultural programme of the Municipal Council.

ENRIQUE DE TENA, Director

He is Higher Professor of Music with a specialism in Saxophone.

As a saxophonist, he was the winner of the Spanish Musical Union National Award. He applied for and was selected as saxophone soloist in the municipal orchestras of Seville, Bilbao and Madrid.

As a lecturer, he has taught the saxophone extensively at the conservatories of Cullera (Valencia), Getafe (Madrid) and the Las Rozas School of Music (Madrid). He has also acted as technical advisor to the Ministry of Education.

As a composer, he has won the prestigious "Maestro Villa" award for musical composition of the Municipal Council of Madrid. His chamber music compositions are taught in the most important Spanish and European conservatories, and his music for symphony orchestras is regularly performed by the best national and international ensembles. Some of his compositions are compulsory pieces in the most important musical competitions.

His career as a composer has also been studied in various PhD theses and dissertations.

Creator and director of the International Orchestra Competition of Villa de Dosbarrios (Toledo), he is a regular panellist and jury member at different musical contests and competitions.

In 2020, he was appointed Assistant Director of the Municipal Symphony Orchestra of Madrid.