Spain’s Teatro Real Orchestra Makes U.S. Debut at Carnegie Hall

The national opera house of Spain will perform music from an array of Spanish composers at Carnegie Hall on September 15, 2022

Winner of “Best Opera Company” at the 2021 International Opera Awards, the Teatro Real (The Royal Opera of Madrid) orchestra will make their U.S. debut in “A Celebration of Spanish Music” concert at Carnegie Hall. 

On September 15, 2022, their all-spanish concert program will feature internationally renowned Spanish artists including guest conductor Juanjo Mena, who will lead the concert, pianist Javier Perianes, and soprano Sabina Puértolas.

Celebrating the music of Spain, the event will showcase piano and orchestral music by Manuel de Falla and Isaac Albéniz, plus a selection of pieces from zarzuela (a type of Spanish opera) by Falla, Amadeo Vives, Pablo Sorozábal, Gerónimo Giménez, and Manuel Nieto, as well as orchestral works by Federico Chueca, Falla, and Albéniz. 

Juanjo Mena began his conducting career in his native Spain as artistic director of the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra in 1999. In 2011, he was named BBC Philharmonic’s chief conductor, and currently serves as principal conductor of the Cincinnati May Festival. His additional concert engagements have included the Berlin Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala, and Dresden Philharmonic.

Pianist Javier Perianes has worked with conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Charles Dutoit, Zubin Mehta, Gustavo Dudamel, Simone Young, François-Xavier Roth, Daniel Harding, and has appeared at festivals including the BBC Proms, Lucerne, La Roque d’Anthéron, and Ravinia. He was awarded the 2012 “National Music Prize” by the Ministry of Culture of Spain, the 2019 Artist of the Year of the International Classical Music Awards, plus the 2021 Granada Festival Medal of Honor.

Acclaimed soprano Sabina Puértolas has appeared at London’s Royal Opera House, Madrid’s Teatro Real, Barcelona’s Liceo, Teatro Municipal, Seattle Opera, and the China National Center for the Performing Arts. She is also the winner of the international Operalia singing competition and the Riccardo Zandonai, Julián Gayarre, Francisca Quart, and Manuel Ausensi competitions.

To attend the concert, click here.

An introductory video to the event can be watched below.

Teatro Real Orchestra’s historic U.S. debut also celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Sister City agreement between Madrid and New York in 1982 — created to promote cultural and commercial ties.

In their upcoming 2022/23 season, Teatro Real will present the Spanish premieres of operas by contemporary American composers, including Philip Glass’ Orphée, as a season opener, and John Adams’ Nixon in China. The concerts will also be hosting U.S. artists, who are among Teatro Real’s ambassadors abroad.