ORCHESTRA BALEARIC ISLANDS (OSIB)
The Orquestra Simfònica Illes Balears is considered one of the leading symphonies in Spain. It was created in 1988 under the institution called Fundació Pública de les Balears per a la Música, which formed a part of the Govern Balear (Balearic government), the Ajuntament de Palma (Palma’s local government) and the Consell de Mallorca (Mallorca council).
Although the Balearic Islands’ symphonic history dates back to the ‘40s, the formation of the orchestra as we know it today is down to the maestro Luís Remartínez, who was its conductor and artistic director from 1988 to 1994. The maestros following him were: Philippe Bender (1994-1997 and 2005-2009), Salvador Brotons (1997-2000 and 2009-2013), Georey Simon (2001-2002), Edmon Colomer (2002-2005), Josep Vicent (2013-2014) and Joji Hattori (2014-2018) as title co-director. The current director is maestro Pablo Mielgo.
The orchestra performs its regular season symphonically (season ticket period in the Auditorium de Palma, symphonic concerts in Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, season ticket period in the Auditorium de Manacor, exclusive shows in Mallorca), as well as lyrically (opera season of the Fundació Teatre Principal de Palma and Amics de l’Òpera de Maó). In its summer season, the OSIB carries out the ‘Estius Simfònics’ (Symphonic Summers) festival with the Castell de Bellver as its headquarters and collaborating with other festivals such as Pollença or Formentor Sunset Classics. In addition to its artistic schedule, there are extensive teaching efforts made through programmes such as, but not least, ‘Simfònica en família” and ‘Simfònica en Societat,” which brings music to groups facing social exclusion.
One of our primary goals is to release the labour of Balearic composers. Prove of that is the fact that we hold Antoni Parera Fons as a composer in residence. Soon we will première a new work, Arxiduc, composed by him and written by Carme Riera, member of the Real Academia Española.
Over the last 25 years, the orchestra has accompanied internationally renowned soloists including Juan Diego Flórez, Frank Peter Zimmermann, Emmanuel Pahud, Khatia Buniatishvili, Giuliano Carmignola, Valentina Nafornita, Celso Albelo, Juan Manuel Cañizares, Kiri Te Kanawa, Teresa Berganza, Joaquín Achúcarro, Piotr Anderszewski, María Bayo, Simón Orfila, Katia and Marielle Labèque and the young Francisco Fullana.
The OSIB has performed outside of the Balearic Islands on numerous occasions, with their recent trip to Madrid’s Teatro Real together with the tenor Juan Diego Flórez, their journey to Zurich for a concert with the mezzo Kate Lindsey, the show in Paris’ Radio Hall France with Khayia Buniatishvili and the concert in the UN’s Human Rights Room, in Geneva, as particular highlights.
The OSIB has a label that allows us to distribute our recordings across more than 40 music platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and Google Play Music. Today, there are four albums: “Revolució,” with Symphony No.7 by Beethoven and The Rite of Spring, by Tchaikovsky; Symphony No. 2 by G. Mahler, and works by Majorcan composers in “Mallorca Suite” by Baltasar Samper; and “Foners,” by Antoni Parera Fons. Besides enjoying these recordings, through them, the OSIB displays the Balearic Islands’ talent and international scope, and its institutions prove their firm commitment to support culture as an essential element for the future of the region.
In 2020, the OSIB has received the Gold Medal, the most prestigious award from the Balearic Government.