PREVIOUS CONCERTS

"TENOR OF THE CENTURY". JONAS KAUFMANN IN CONCERT

The event programme of this 4th edition will be filled with great moments of inspiration. The Gala Concert will have the participation of an outstanding singer, certainly one of the most acclaimed voices of the moment: the German tenor Jonas Kaufmann.

Along with mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili, and accompanied by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Gran Canaria, conducted by Karel Mark Chichon, these incomparable artists will present a lyrical gala that will take to the stage some of the most moving lyrics of the operatic repertoire, on Tuesday 25th of June 2024, at 20:30 at Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel.

ROBERTO ALAGNA IN CONCERT

"Lyricism and passion"

The most exquisite music once again provides the soundtrack to the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the gardens of the emblematic Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, with the celebration of the Third Edition of the Santa Catalina Classics classical music festival.
 

Acclaimed by audiences and critics as one of the best tenors in history, Roberto Alagna has become one of world opera's brightest stars. The warm timbre of his voice, together with the passion and dramatic force with which he interprets a wide repertoire, have become a unique trademark of his artistic perfection. On this occasion, accompanied by one of the most outstanding symphonic groups performing today, the Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of De Karel Mark Chichon, he will perform a repertoire ranging from French lyric opera to Italian verismo, with his unmistakable dramatic flourishes.

YOUNG TALENTS – JAEDEN IZIK DZURKO

Winner of the Santander International Piano Competition 2022

The young pianist, Jaeden Izik Dzurko, who won first prize in the last edition of the Santander International Piano Competition, has also recently been honoured with awards at international competitions such as the Hilton Head International Piano Competition and the Maria Canals International Music Competition.

PIANO RECITAL

«Strength and virtuosity»

With his distinctive style, which combines a profound understanding of the score and an unwavering commitment to exploring the sonic possibilities of his instrument, the Sevillian pianist has received warm receptions on renowned stages across Europe and America

CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT - FRANCISCO FULLANA Y ALBA VENTURA

"The violin made poetry"

The second recital of the chamber music concert will feature the violin and piano duo of Francisco Fullana and Alba Ventura. In this evening performance, the Spanish artists will tackle works by renowned composers such as Granados, Poulenc, Messiaen, Turina and Sarasate, among others, a demanding and intense repertoire that will transport the audience into the deepest realms of emotion and poetry.

A sound-pairing experience

A different way of enjoying the quality, tonalities and nuances of an excellent wine, experimenting and learning about its ancestral link with other arts throughout history.

This special tour will have three stages: a journey through the moments that mark the relationship between wine, music and artistic creation, which will conclude with a musical display of the instruments associated with the ancient god of wine: aulos; an oenological presentation, in which the particularity of Canary Island's wines, made from a unique grape in the world, will be revealed; and a wine tasting with instrumental music performance, which will allow you to perceive, through the "sound pairing", the most hidden nuances of the grape and enjoy the synaesthesia with the sounds.

JUAN DIEGO FLÓREZ - OVIEDO FILARMONÍA - CRISTOPHER FRANKLIN

'A unique voice'

Hailed by international critics as one of the best tenors of the 21st century, Juan Diego Flórez has established himself as bel canto's greatest talent. A multifaceted artist who combines technical perfection, interpretative expression and a strong stage presence in his performing.

 Together with renowned Spanish orchestra Oviedo Filarmonía, an internationally renowned symphonic ensemble, and conducted by maestro Christopher Franklin, the artist will fill the gardens of Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel with his vibrato as he takes audiences through the most emotive lyrical repertoire of the nineteenth century, a true journey to the heart of the bel canto style.

ALEXEI VOLODIN, PIANO

“A poet at the piano”

Charged with drama, emotion and monumentality, Alexei Volodin presents a recital dedicated to some of the most representative pieces of the Romantic repertoire of the 19th century.

The pianist, who has worked with some of the most important orchestras in Europe and America, under the direction of maestros such as Valery Gergiev, will offer the
auditorium his interpretation of masterpieces such as the Fantasia in F minor and the famous Polonaise-Fantaisie by Chopin, as well as Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky.

CHAMBER SERIES - LETICIA MORENO, VIOLIN; FELIPE AGUIRRE, PIANO

"The soul of the violin"

Leticia Moreno is one of the most outstanding violinists of her generation. After the release of her third album with the legendary Deutsche Grammophon, she has ratified her excellent interpretative qualities, as well as her deep devotion to the greatest musical works.On this occasion, together with pianist and conductor Felipe Aguirre, she will perform the famous Kreutzer Sonata by L. van Beethoven, Siete Canciones Populares Españolas (Seven Spanish Folk Songs) by M. de Falla, as well as the rhapsodic Tzigane by M. Ravel. Through these works, as contrasting as they are complementary, the audience will get to enjoy one of the Spanish violinist's most outstanding qualities: her ability to 'speak' through the instrument and to 'express' her soul through its sounds.

A sound-pairing experience

A different way of enjoying the quality, tonalities and nuances of an excellent wine, experimenting and learning about its ancestral link with other arts throughout history.

This special tour will have three stages: a journey through the moments that mark the relationship between wine, music and artistic creation, which will conclude with a musical display of the instruments associated with the ancient god of wine: aulos, tympanon and kymbala; an oenological introduction, in which the particularity of Canarian wines, a unique grape in the world, will be revealed; and a wine tasting with instrumental music performance, which will allow you to perceive, through the "sound pairing", the most hidden nuances of the grape and enjoy the synaesthesia with the sounds.

Mahler Chamber Orchestra - Gustavo Dudamel Director - The force of genius

Acclaimed by international critics and honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Gustavo Dudamel has established himself as the most important and influential conductor of the present day. Under his baton, two of the most important works of 19th-century symphonic repertoire will be performed. The orchestra in charge of enchanting the gardens of Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, is the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, an ensemble that combines enthusiasm with experience, and which has been rapturously received by audiences and critics alike for more than three decades.

OLGA SYNIAKOVA - MEZZOSOPRANO IHOR VOIEVODIN - BARITONE FELIPE AGUIRRE- PIANO

There's nothing better than a lyric recital in a natural setting to appreciate the magic of the voice. On this occasion, mezzo-soprano Olga Syniakova and baritone Ihor Voievodin, whose flourishing careers have already included triumphs on stages such as the Palau de les Arts and the Dnipró Opera Theatre, will delight the audience with a programme comprising some of the most famous opera arias and duets, such as the famous "Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix", by Camille Saint-Saëns and Mozart's "Là ci darem la mano". With this recital, and in line with the scholarship awarded by the Barcelo Hotel Group to Olga Syniakova within the framework of collaboration with the Albéniz Foundation, the Santa Catalina Classics Festival reaffirms its commitment to support new generations of emerging artists and young talents in classical music.

DMYTRO CHONI - "Virtuosity and poetry" - PIANO

The young Ukrainian pianist Dmytro Choni, a rising talent on the international piano scene, has not only performed as a soloist with numerous European and American orchestras, but has also been acclaimed as the First Prize and Gold Medal Winner at the 2018 Paloma O'Shea Santander International Piano Competition. In this recital, he will tackle works of great technical complexity, in a repertoire ranging from the piano poetry of Debussy, with selections from his work Images, to the virtuosity and melancholic depth of Rachmaninov, with his famous Sonata No. 2, in B flat minor.

Musical Talks by Felipe Aguirre - Artistic Director of Santa Catalina Classics Festival

A graduate with honours from the Vienna Conservatory, Felipe Aguirre began his international conducting career in 1998 with the Cape Town Philharmonic. He was appointed Honorary Conductor of the Orchester-Verein in Schwechat (Lower Austria), as well as Principal Conductor of the Schönbrunner Kappelle in Vienna. He has also given concerts in Europe and America with orchestras such as the Kammer-Philharmonie (Hungary), the Pressburger Symphoniker (Slovakia), the Spokane Symphony (USA),  the Sinfónica de Baleares (Spain) and the Innsbrucker Symphoniker (Austria). He has been a Professor of Musicology, Music Performance and Chamber Music at the Conservatory of the Balearic Islands since 2010, and has been Guest Conductor of more than thirty symphony orchestras in Europe, Asia and America.

A sound-pairing experience

A different way of enjoying the quality, tonalities and nuances of an excellent wine, experimenting and learning about its ancestral link with other arts throughout history. This special itinerary will comprise three stages: A brief introduction to oenology, revealing the particularity of Canary Island wines, a unique grape in the world. A wine tasting with a performance of instrumental music, which will allow us to perceive, through "sound pairing", the most hidden nuances of the grape. And, to finish, a talk-recital entitled "Dionysus and Divine Inspiration", a journey through the defining moments of the relationship between wine, music and artistic creation, which will conclude with a demonstration of the instruments associated with the ancient god of wine: aulos, tympanon and kymbala.

The best of classical Piano

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF THE BALEARIC ISLANDS FELIPE AGUIRRE - DIRECTOR

Considered by critics as one of the greatest emerging talents of the piano scene around the world.

 Juan Pérez Floristán has been acclaimed for his performances full of musicality and quality.

After being named the winner of the Santander International Piano Competition in 2015, his career has recently led him to perform at the prestigious Proms, where he shared the legendary Royal Albert Hall stage with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and director Ben Gernon. At the Gala concert that he will offers at the Formentor Sunset Classics — the space that has accompanied his artistic ascent from the beginnings— audiences will hear a carefully selected selection of some of Beethoven's piano and orchestra works, Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Ravel and Gershwin: a unique moment to let yourself be carried away by the charisma and enthusiasm of a real piano poet.

FORMENTOR SUNSET CLASSICS – TEATRO REAL

The Formentor Sunset Classics and Teatro Real jointly present one of the greatest piano phenomena in piano history, bringing together youth, vigour, brilliant technique and special originality: Chinese pianist Lang Lang. On this new occasion, where the festival moves its Formentor Sunset Experience to the legendary operational stage of Madrid, we will hear works by Beethoven, among other composers.

Letting yourself be swept away by the sounds of the piano, performed by one of the greatest musicians of our century, means entering a faraway and apparently inaccessible world: that of pure inspiration.

PIANO RECITAL

Portuguese pianist Maria João Pires has captivated her audiences thanks to the sensitivity, authenticity and inspiration of her performances. With her incomparable style and mastery of lyricism and depth, she always manages to bring the essence of music to the stage. The combination of sounds that comes to life through her hands illuminates the silence like a clear, direct beam of light shining through a transparent canvas. The offered programme, surrounded by the idyllic gardens of the Formentor Royal Hideaway Hotel, will include some of the most emblematic parts of  Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin; three composers that have undoubtedly marked the career of this great artist of our century.

LETICIA MORENO PERFORMS TANGO ON HER VIOLIN

“I can't wait to arrive at this magical place, I think we will all be very happy there”. Such was the enthusiasm of violinist Leticia Moreno before the 26 May opening concert of the 2018-2018 season of the Formentor Sunset Classics Festival. Accompanied by the "Tango Nuevo project" Quintet–made up of Claudio Constantini on the accordeon, José Gallardo on the piano, Uxia Martínez on the double bass and Anneleen Lenaerts on the harp-, Leticia Moreno offers a musical tour through the world of tango in a truly impressive setting.

This musical proposal was explained by Felipe Aguirre, artistic director of the Festival: “The project with which we have opened this festival tries to update what was the tango revolution that the Argentine Piazzolla developed with his work, giving it a breath of fresh air in this style". A musical style rooted in the origins of the Formentor, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, which opened in 1929 from the effort, vision and dreams of Argentine Adan Diehl, and which enchanted Moreno from the day she met Piazzolla. “His music has a complexity and an incredible depth, but at the same time he distils it so it becomes straightforward, so beautiful and so easy to listen to but without being simple, quite the reverse,” explained the violinist.

That's why the programme was designed precisely to deepen our awareness of the composers, the works, that marked not only the music of Piazzolla but also his life and character, and which led him to create this unique and revolutionary idea.

With this calling card, the violinist from Madrid let herself be accompanied by great musicians to fill the Formentor Bay with legendary figures such as Bach, Vivaldi, Bartok, Ginastera and Piazzolla himself, all paying homage to tango.

THE GREATEST SOPRANO OF THE CENTURY, ANNA NETREBKO, AND THE TENOR YUSIF EYVAZOV ENCHANTED THE PUBLIC OF FORMENTOR SUNSET CLASSICS WITH THEIR VOICES

Anna Netrebko, recently consecrated by international press as the most important soprano of the 21st century, has this afternoon stepped up to the stage of Formentor Sunset Classics to close the concerts that have been held in Formentor, a Royal Hideaway Hotel during the sixth edition. Her extraordinary vocal technique, together with her great performing charisma and dramatic strength, combined in one of the most privileged voices in the history of lyrical music. On this occasion, it was on display at an opera gala along with tenor Yusif Eyvazov, another great exponent of the repertoire and a musician who has seen great success during his international career. Together these voices, under the sunset of the bay of Formentor, have played over the grounds and duets of composers such as Verdi, Puccini and Mascagni: a true delight for the senses.

Both voices, which have performed under the direction of conductor Michelangelo Mazza, were accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra of the Balearic Islands, one of Spain's leading symphonic exponents.

JUAN PEREZ FLORISTÁN WILL MOVE THE AUDIENCE OF FORMENTOR SUNSET CLASSICS WITH AN EXCITING CONCERT

Anna Netrebko, recently consecrated by international press as the most important soprano of the 21st century, has this afternoon stepped up to the stage of Formentor Sunset Classics to close the concerts that have been held in Formentor, a Royal Hideaway Hotel during the sixth edition. Her extraordinary vocal technique, together with her great performing charisma and dramatic strength, combined in one of the most privileged voices in the history of lyrical music. On this occasion, it was on display at an opera gala along with tenor Yusif Eyvazov, another great exponent of the repertoire and a musician who has seen great success during his international career. Together these voices, under the sunset of the bay of Formentor, have played over the grounds and duets of composers such as Verdi, Puccini and Mascagni: a true delight for the senses.

Both voices, which have performed under the direction of conductor Michelangelo Mazza, were accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra of the Balearic Islands, one of Spain's leading symphonic exponents.

VIOLIST ISABEL VILLANUEVA AND PIANIST FRANÇOIS DUMONT MOVED THE PUBLIC OF FORMENTOR SUNSET CLASSICS

On 10 August, the  Formentor Sunset Classics festival ended its Chamber Music Programme with the violist Isabel Villanueva who, together with pianist François Dumont, performed "The soft accents of the viola", a warm and intimate instrument whose sound register is capable of expressing the deepest emotions and nuances of the human soul.

This repertoire, which the artists selected to perform in Formentor, provided the concert with a warmth that, in the words of Villanueva,  “created a very special connection between the audience, the music and nature.” An inspiring link that is intimately significant to both artists, who were  thankful for participating in the sixth edition of Formentor Sunset Classics and its surroundings: “Belonging to this project implies a level of excellence in terms of the quality of the artists with whom we are lucky enough to perform and the beauty of this dreamlike setting, to be able to play music on the edge of the sea in such an inspiring location is extraordinary,” said the violist minutes before making her way onto the stage.

DUDAMEL AND THE VIENNA PHILHARMONIC COMBINE MODERNITY AND TRADITION IN A UNIQUE CONCERT

The youngest conductor to ever conduct the New Year’s Concert with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra was responsible for closing the Formentor Sunset Classics Festival, his first time away from Mallorca. This time, it was the Teatro Real in Madrid to welcome Gustavo Dudamel. “I'm so excited to conduct in such a classic theatre, which conceals acoustic mysteries that you just don't get in modern venues,” the Venezuelan stated in the press conference where he acknowledged his enthusiasm towards his Teatro Real debut.

It was his first time on this stage but not his first time with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. In his extensive experience, despite his youth, he has performed with this legendary orchestra on various occasions. That is why this concert had that enriching character, combining a young conductor, brimming with naturalness and talent and who champions modernity in classical music, with a historic orchestra, recognised as one of the best in the world, coming to celebrate its bicentennial and capable of intimidating anyone with its impressive sonic explosions.

This was precisely what they demonstrated from the beginning of the concert, with the introverted Viennese darkness of the Adagio of the unfinished Symphony no. 10 by Mahler to continue, after the break, with Berlioz's vitalist and expansive Symphony Fantastic. An impressive sensory journey between different shores that was brilliantly commanded by maestro Dudamel.

El Vals del Divertimento by Bernstein and the polka Winterlust by Josef Strauss closed a unique concert in which the conductor even allowed himself to joke with the audience by pulling out the notes of the Divertimento, faithful to that close and outgoing temperament that characterises the Venezuelan conductor.

A show that united a true "musical genius" according to National Geographic magazine with one of the best orchestras in the world in a new environment but just as extraordinary as the original. There couldn't be a better grand finale!

THE PENULTIMATE CONCERT OF FORMENTOR SUNSET CLASSICS, WITH THE IMPRESSIVE VOICE OF OLGA PERETYATKO-MARIOTTI

The Russian soprano conquered the stage of Formentor Sunset Classics on the shores of a hypnotic Mediterranean sea, performing true jewels of the lyrical repertoire.

In this final stretch of one of the most prestigious and beautiful festivals of classical music, Peretyatko-Mariotti has lowered the curtain on a night of enormous musical quality where the coloraturas of her powerful voice flowed along with the harmonies by Mozart, Offenbach or Donizzetti.

Before going up to the stage open to the sea, the artist declared: “I feel really privileged to be part of the festival, since it is a beautiful setting with an amazing history. Belonging to Formentor Sunset Classics makes me very happy and I think the audience can sense that”. A few minutes later, her astonishing vocal range starred in one of the most exciting evenings of this iconic festival.

From high registers to impossible flourishes, passing through harmonious twists that kept the audience in suspense, Olga Peretyatko-Mariotti performed pieces like the aria O mio babbino caro, de Puccini,and the famous Ave Maria, by Caccini, which showed why this consecrated artist is one of the best sopranos of the century.

In the environment of vibrant Mediterranean flavour of one of the best preserved beaches in Mallorca, the Formentor Sunset Clasics brings together great established figures and emerging artists of great international projection in the gardens of Formentor, a Royal Hideaway Hotel. A gift for the senses, which are not only overwhelmed by unparalleled lyrical performances, but also delight in the views of the turquoise sea and the sunset in the Sierra de la Tramuntana.

EL VALLE DUO FORMENTOR SUNSET CLASSICS 2017

DÚO CASSADÓ OPENED THE CHAMBER MUSIC PROGRAM FOR THE FIFTH EDITION OF THE FORMENTOR SUNSET CLASSICS FESTIVAL

Marta Moll (piano) and Damian Martínez (cello), two of the most promising instrumentalists of their generation, performed a programme based on true classics of the cello canon, a proposal that according to Damian "runs through the entire musical imaginary of popular Spanish music" and consisted of pieces such as the Sonata "Arpeggione" (by F. Schubert) and the "Adagio und allegro" (by R. Schumann), as well as works by two great Spanish composers: Gaspar Cassadó and Ernesto Halffter. The evening closed with an energetic and festive finale, the Grand Tango by Argentine Astor Piazzolla.

During the moments prior to the concert, the pianist, excited to get on the sea-facing stage that has hosted concerts and recitals by the greatest geniuses of classical music, declared "to be part of the Formentor Sunset Classics festival is a privilege, not just because I have shared the stage with great artists, but because of the history that surrounds the hotel, which always been linked to artistic creation". For his part, Damian highlighted the natural setting that surrounds the concert, "making music in an environment like this is really very special, the Mediterranean Sea and this beautiful vegetation make it a unique place. Not to mention the silence, where we can really listen to nature and be away from the hustle and bustle we are used to".

TWO OF THE BEST LYRICAL VOICES JOIN FORCES TO LAUNCH THE FIFTH SEASON OF FORMENTOR SUNSET CLASSICS

The Formentor Sunset Classics stage, on the shores of the Mediterranean, has once again raised its curtain, welcoming its fifth Edition. For the occasion, two of the most relevant names on the classical scene were responsible for inaugurating a season full of magic: tenor Roberto Alagna and acclaimed soprano Aleksandra Kurzak. Both were fused with the sea breeze in arias and opera duets loaded with lyricism and energy at the most iconic hotel in Mallorca: Formentor, a Royal Hideaway Hotel.

Upon his arrival at the hotel, during a meeting with the press that preceded the concert, the tenor confessed: "For me, performing on the spectacular stage of Formentor, surrounded by sea and sun, is like singing in paradise." For her part, the soprano Aleksandra Kurzak added "Formentor Sunset Classics, a beautiful festival in an incredible setting, we are really happy to have the opportunity to inaugurate this edition".

The select audience experienced the transformation of the characters, who mutated their roles from aria to aria, from duet to duet, in almost operatic performances. A journey through diverse and famous styles and stories of the lyrical canon, and even through popular Hispanic songs. A unique performance during which the natural environment put the singers to the test, turning the Mediterranean wind into a dramatic element of the scenography, and endowing the voices and characters with a titanic beauty and interpretive force. Aleksandra Kurzak seemed to fly with her powerful voice through the veils of her dress, while Roberto took great musical risks with ease and experience.

Two stars united by the harmony of the song that have brought to life, once again, the magic of Formentor Sunset Classics with a majestic concert that opens a memorable edition.

AINHOA ARTETA'S VOICE IN THE FINAL CONCERT OF THE SEASON

The most charismatic soprano of her generation and an international reference in lyrical art was the star of the last concert of the 2016 season. The day before, in an exclusive meeting with the press, the singer stated: "We artists must listen to our voice, to what our voice likes. And my voice likes Puccini. He is a composer in which my voice feels comfortable and grows with generosity and without any kind of obligation."

The emotional concert, divided into two parts, began with a spectacular Ainhoa Arteta as Carmen, by Georges Bizet. Her vehement expressiveness enhanced her singing, which delved into the most heartbreaking feelings of the programme, travelling from Bizet to Puccini to Mascagni. "Sola, perduta, abbandonata" was the dramatic ending of 45 minutes of intensity and opera in the natural setting of Formentor, for which the artist only had words of enthusiasm: "I strongly advocate doing concerts in natural settings like this, this place is wonderful and this festival is simply exquisite."

The second part, which began with a tribute to Enrique Granados for the 100th anniversary of his death, focused on the Zarzuela, and presented the audience with magical gifts such as Out of Africa, by John Barry. A dedicated and theatrical Ainhoa Arteta drew the smiles of the attendees, to whom she transmitted all her love for music in the purest way, moving them.

The finishing touch, for an audience that ended up on two feet, were two master encores, O Mio Babbino Caro and La Misión. Bravo.

THREE GRAMMY AWARD WINNERS ILLUMINATED THE FORMENTOR BAY

Hilary Hahn, referred to by Classic FM experts as one of the best violinists of all time, thrilled the Formentor Sunset Classics crowd at her only concert in Spain on 1 September.

On the same day the artist, winner of three Grammy Awards, explained at a press conference: "I have been playing a violin created by Jean Baptiste Vuillaume since I was 13 years old, it has grown with me, it is the instrument that I have played on all my records and I feel very attached to it." In addition, in that same presentation to the media, Hahn, who has recorded 15 albums, stated: "I think it will be a wonderful experience for the audience, because performing on this stage is to be at the same time in a concert and in the middle of nature. It is an honor for me to be here, it is a beautiful location".

Arturo Reverter, music critic for La Razón y Scherzo wrote, "From the exposition of the first song, the sound of the instrument came to us soft and expressive, on graceful spirals". And so it was, thrilling the audience accompanied by a first-rate symphonic group, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Jirí Belohlávek, when they performed the Suite for String Orchestra by Leos Janacek, Mozart's Concerto No. 5 and the Czech Suite in Re Mayor, Op. 39 by Dvorák.

The concert, in which the encores were not lacking, ended with a Giga by Bach and the Pizzicato Polka by Strauss, played only by the orchestra. A tremendous end to a prodigious experience that could also be followed live through the hotel's social media channels. A new way to experience together with all the followers of the Festival and the artist a fragment of the concert that took place during the most spectacular sunset that one can imagine, Formentor.

VIBRANT GROUP OF STRINGS

The Quiroga Quartet has starred in the second concert of the 2016 Formentor Sunset Classics Festival. Its members, Helena Poggio (cello), Josep Puchades (viola), Cibrán Sierra (violin) and Aitor Hevia (violin) have masterfully performed the string quartet Op.20 No. 4 by Haydn and the string quartet Op. 51 No. 1 of Brahms.

They themselves explained the choice of the program: "We consider Haydn the father of the quartet. He wrote many, many quartets throughout his life and experimented with creating really fun musical universes, full of humour, wit, daring and audacity, which were a new model".

Regarding the second author, Helena said: "Brahms wrote three quatrains, three absolute jewels; At Formentor Sunset Classics we have interpreted the first one, harmonically sophisticated and with overwhelming formal and structural perfection. It is eternal, wonderful… universal music."

In statements prior to the concert, the Quartet also wanted to emphasise that, "This is the best stage where we have ever played, an idyllic setting where time seems to stand still. The union of such a spectacular natural space with such a quality musical programme makes this an incomparable event". His participation in this edition, like that of young pianist Juan Pérez Floristán on 16 July, has been possible thanks to the collaboration between the Albéniz Foundation and the Barceló Hotel Group for the support of talented young people.

At the end of the concert we were able to attend an encore rooted in the idea of the link between traditional music and more elaborate music. A surprising performance arranged for strings by themselves and inspired by the work they are doing for their next album, which they plan to release in spring 2017.

STRENGTH AND PASSION AT THE PIANO

The young piano genius Juan Pérez Floristán, winner of the First Prize and Gold Medal of the Audience Award at the XVIII International Piano Competition of Santander "Paloma O'Shea" (2015), inaugurated the fourth edition last Saturday, 16 July from the classical music festival Formentor Sunset Classics, with an exciting piano recital that moved the audience.

Pérez Floristán, happy and excited to get on the Formentor stage, which has already hosted concerts and recitals by the greatest geniuses of classical music, such as that of Chinese pianist Lang Lang, declared: "In a natural environment like that of Barceló Formentor, performing outdoors and facing the sea is the ultimate experience. If you combine Hilary Hahn, Ainhoa Arteta and the Quiroga Quartet on the same stage, the result is an explosion of talent, inspiration for any artist. What more could you ask for? ”.

Music runs through his veins: his own mother, María Floristán, was his mentor for over ten years. His father, conductor Juan Luis Pérez, has also contributed to the success of the young man, who took to the Mallorcan stage to dazzle the audience in the first concert of the season, in which he participated thanks to the collaboration between Albéniz Foundation and Barceló Hotel Group to support talented young artists.

Before his intimate recital, attendees were able to enjoy a Master Class given by the Festival's Artistic Director, Felipe Aguirre, on the programme preparing the audience to appreciate with greater intensity the works performed by the artists.

“Beethoven moves me to discover new things. He is a revolutionary figure, so great and groundbreaking that one always finds things in his creations that continue to surprise." Regarding Liszt's Sonata, which shocked the audience by being played with such passion, the young man confessed, "It's an odyssey, 30 minutes followed by fireworks, a vital experience. One ends up exhausted, empty but very comforted."

As a great innovation this year, the festival has acquired a powerful online dimension through its website, www.formentorsunsetclassics.com, and its social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram, thanks to which hotel fans can enjoy the latest news from the festival and exclusive and unpublished content, including excerpts from streaming concerts, for those who want to enjoy the most charming moments of the Mediterranean.

During the moments prior to the concert, the pianist, excited to get on the sea-facing stage that has hosted concerts and recitals by the greatest geniuses of classical music, declared "to be part of the Formentor Sunset Classics festival is a privilege, not just because I have shared the stage with great artists, but because of the history that surrounds the hotel, which always been linked to artistic creation". For his part, Damian highlighted the natural setting that surrounds the concert, "making music in an environment like this is really very special, the Mediterranean Sea and this beautiful vegetation make it a unique place. Not to mention the silence, where we can really listen to nature and be away from the hustle and bustle we are used to".

EXQUISITE PERFORMANCE OF BARITONE THOMAS HAMPSON

Considered one of the most recognised contemporary baritones for his scenic charisma, vocal and artistic quality, Thomas Hampson closed the 2015 edition on 8 October with a performance that shone with all its force, capturing the audience from beginning to end.

Hampson, of American origin, regularly performs in major operas in the US and Europe where to date he has enjoyed a great international career as an opera singer and recording artist, as well as maintaining an active interest in research, education and musical promotion. His extensive discography includes several prestigious international recognitions and awards: a Grammy Award, five Edison Awards and the Grand Prix du Disque.

He had never been to Mallorca before and he assured in a meeting with the press, the day before his concert, that Formentor is a place with "a magical, wonderful atmosphere", and joked that his greatest challenge would be to stay "focused on his voice and not on the natural landscape that surrounds this stage".

For his performance, together with the Symphony Orchestra of the Balearic Islands directed by Felipe Aguirre, the baritone wanted to get personally involved in the development of the programme and "tell stories" with fun, approachable pieces. His selection included works by Mozart, Verdi, Massenet, Lehár, and Bernstein, as well as excerpts from musicals by Cole Porter. A comprehensive programme that began with a solemn introduction of the genius of Salzburg and gradually progressed through the history of the musical to some of the standard repertoires of American popular music of the last century, making the audience vibrate throughout the show.

At the end of his performance, he thanked the warm ovation by giving an exquisite encore and performing the famous song "Night and Day" by Cole Porter. A unique moment to end the third edition of a festival that year after year accumulates successes and unforgettable experiences.

A PRESTIGIOUS VIOLIN MOVES AUDIENCES IN FORMENTOR

This third edition will be remembered for the exciting violin and piano recital offered by two figures of great projection in a new commitment by Barceló Formentor to combine experience and youth in classical music. Ana María Valderrama, recognised as one of the best violinists in Spain, together with pianist Luis del Valle, performed works by Schuman, Saint-Saëns, Sarasate, Dubois and Chopin.

Immensely grateful for participating in this initiative by the Barceló Group, hand in hand with the Albéniz Foundation and the Reina Sofía School of Music (of which both are former students and the place where they met - they are now married), Valderrama commented, "it's an honour to play in festivals with top-level artists, such as Maestro Daniel Barenboim, or Dama Kiri Te Kanawa", and "...these types of initiatives are fundamental, such as those organised in this hotel for us and especially considering the social situation we live in".

Regarding the recital, which took place at sunset in the exclusive gardens of the Barceló Formentor hotel, the attendees were able to enjoy the performance of this duo and their moving relationship between both instruments, to the point of intermingling and “reaching the essence and the heart of music", as Luis del Valle quoted, prior to the concert, when describing what they look for and what motivates them when they play together.

The new setting specially designed to host these new shows with young talents, with a smaller capacity and a more intimate setting, managed to connect the audience with the music and the heavenly environment of this corner of the Mediterranean from the very beginning.

A brilliant performance that has made it possible, for the first time at Formentor Sunset Classics, to combine a line-up with established musicians and great promises destined to join the former in the future.

MAGIC LANG LANG PIANO RECITAL UNDER THE FORMENTOR PINE TREES

The current great star of classical piano inaugurated this third edition of the festival by reliving the magic of this place where the notes of his music were mixed among the pine forest facing the sea of Formentor, while the audience witnessed the sunset.

410 privileged invitees, a record number of attendees to date, were able to enjoy the only recital that the pianist offered this year in Spain and for two hours, the great emblem of Chinese strength in classical music, exhibited his mastery with a programme that started with Tchaikovsky's "seasons" (one per month of the year) in a relaxed manner with his usual swinging his arms up and down and with his head back and his gaze towards the landscape in the most romantic passages; he continued with Bach's "Italian Concerto", vigorously underlining the piece's contrapuntal play; and after the intermission at nightfall Lang culminated in a state of introspection and sensitivity with some extraordinary "Four scherzos" by Chopin, one of his favourite composers.

Completely imbued with the music as he announced during the press conference prior to the concert: "I am convinced that in Formentor Sunset Classics I will play differently thanks to the inspiration of this place... it's even more spectacular than I expected", he poured his heart and soul into his interpretation and exhibited another of the principles that he exposed during his presentation: "A good pianist is a good communicator."

To finish and before a short encore, Lang Lang addressed the audience to thank the applause and the opportunity to perform in the gardens of the Barceló Formentor hotel with an idyllic setting that in his words "is like heaven".

Daniel Barenboim pours his heart and soul into the piano

The second edition of  Formentor Sunset Classics 2014 begins with an experience that is difficult to repeat: in what was his only piano recital in Spain this year, Daniel Barenboim, after the three sonatas in Schubert's exclusive program (No. 4 in A minor, D537; No. 13 in A major, D 664 and No. 17 in D major, "Gasteiner" D 850), pieces that Barenboim himself describes as “true treasures”, the master responded to the warmth and quality of the audience, giving a performance of Chopin in a clear tribute to Mallorca for his connection with the island.

The two pieces were Nocturno, and, after the final applause, a masterful interpretation of Ballad nº1, something very unusual for an encore given its technical complexity, which denoted Daniel Barenboim's commitment to the recital. He already stated in the press conference prior to the concert that he was looking forward to the performance with enthusiasm, especially due to the comments of the musician who preceded him in the first edition of Formentor Sunset Classics: "My friend Zubin Mehta told me that it is a magnificent place".

In addition, thanks to the transparent back stage located in the Barceló Formentor gardens, facing the sea, the sunset became a spectacular backdrop in one of the most privileged natural places from Mallorca.

With a new success, by Maestro Daniel Barenboim, Formentor Sunset Classics becomes for another year the epicentre of music of leading international figures and gives continuity to this musical event through exclusive encounters that guarantee its special character,  of the highest level anywhere in the Mediterranean.

DAMA KIRI TE KANAWA CLOSES THE SECOND EDITION WITH RESOUNDING SUCCESS

Exciting, unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime. This is how the performance of Kiri Te Kanawa, the greatest exponent of glamor in an opera singer, could be described, who filled Barceló Formentor with her supreme voice and imposing presence.

An appointment for all purposes exclusive, since since his retirement from opera in 2004, Te Kanawa barely performs in a dozen concerts a year. A fact that, together with the stage and its natural environment facing the sea, was one of the main incentives for the 350 attendees who had the privilege of feeling the magic of his voice.

The New Zealand soprano with the Orquesta Simfònica de les Illes Balears,

Directed by Robin Stapleton, he seduced his assistants by interpreting one of his favorite composers: Mozart and transformed the works of Joseph Canteloube and Giacomo Puccini, among others, into a balm for the senses.

A very exclusive concert where one of the great voices could be enjoyed in a very different way and undoubtedly much more intimate and special: in the open air facing the sea, in the hotel gardens and while the sun was setting.

For the 2015 edition, Formentor Sunset Classics joins the prestigious Albéniz Foundation to enhance the level of an initiative for which it is difficult to find a similar precedent.

BARCELÓ FORMENTOR IS MOVED BY THE MAGIC OF MAESTRO ZUBIN MEHTA

300 lucky people have enjoyed an unrepeatable appointment: the concert conducted by one of the most important batons in the world has filled the bay of Formentor with the music of Beethoven.

Spectacular, unique, once-in-a-lifetime, exciting. This was the event that took place at Barceló Formentor: Maestro Zubin Mehta conducted the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra (Florence) in a sensational concert in front of the sea, part of the Formentor Sunset Classics cultural project.

The Indian director (Bombay, 1936), delighted the 300 attendees who took over the available capacity with a concert that honoured the name of the initiative and began with the sunset, and that has been composed of two fundamental pieces of the work by Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F major, op. 68 "Pastoral" and Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, op. 55 "Eroica".

"The hotel most closely linked to the arts thus became the loudspeaker of music, flooding this privileged enclave located in the north of Mallorca.

Son of Mehli Mehta (founder of the Bombay Symphony Orchestra) the rise of his career as a conductor has been meteoric, succeeding the tenures in the most prestigious orchestras. His great versatility with which he breathes life into any repertoire, from classicism to the most intricate contemporary scores, and his spectacular and highly personal way of conducting, made him one of the favourite conductors of music lovers.

Thus, the success of the Zubin Mehta event in Mallorca means the consolidation of the cultural initiative Formentor Sunset Classics, whose program started on 22 June with "The Russian Epic", a tribute to classical Russia by one of Russian's most acclaimed directors and head of the Mikhailovsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, teacher Mihkail Tatarnikov.

THE RUSSIAN EPIC PLAYED BY MIKHAIL TATARNIKOV

Maestro Mikhail Tatarnikov, Principal Director of the prestigious Mikhailovsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, considered one of the first figures of classical music in Russia, inaugurated on 22 June, 2013 in the gardens of the hotel facing the sea, the cultural project Formentor Sunset Classics with the concert The Russian Epic.

At a press conference, Tatarnikov confessed that the interpretation of Alexander Nevsky "has a very important meaning for me", for all that the projection of this film meant during his childhood in the former Soviet Union. "Before I started studying music I was already very familiar with both the film and Prokofiev's music," he added.

The performance brought together a total of 80 musicians, on stage the mezzo-soprano Irina Shishkova, the musicians of the Symphonic Orchestra of the Balearic Islands "Ciutat de Palma", the Cor de la Generalitat Valenciana, directed by Larisa Gergieva and the projection from the movie "Alexander Nevsky" by Pier Alli, along with the soundtrack composed by Sergei Prokofiev directed and performed by Maestro Mikhail Tatarnikov.

The concert lasted one hour and consisted of two parts. It began with Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet and after a brief pause came the highlight of the evening: the soundtrack that Prokofiev composed for the film Alexander Nevsky.

Proof of the success of this first edition were the comments in the press the following days: "Memorable performance in the gardens of Barceló Formentor" Fuera de Serie; "Great tribute to classical Russia" Expansión, "Fantastic, almost idyllic" RNE; "An incomparable setting" COPE; "A unique concert" Diario de Mallorca and "The cultural dream in bloom once again" El Mundo.