The University Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) has announced the commencement of its 54th cycle of great authors and interpreters of music, set to take place at the prestigious Auditorio Nacional. The programme, which begins on 26 September, promises a unique selection of performances.
Rector Amaya Mendikoetxea highlighted the university's commitment to reviving neglected repertoires and showcasing music that is seldom featured in standard programming. This initiative aims to bridge research, performance, and education.
The opening concert will see the collaboration of Los Sabandeños, a renowned ensemble in Spanish popular music, alongside the Young Orchestra of Canarias (JOCAN). The cycle will run from 26 September until May, featuring a total of eight concerts. Highlights include a special concert dedicated to Canary Island music, a reinterpretation of classical pieces in dialogue with contemporary sounds, a celebration of Spanish guitar, a performance of Handel's Messiah in its original 1742 version, and a concert of ancient music dedicated to peace, in memory of Professor Tomás y Valiente.
Mendikoetxea stated, “Such high-calibre proposals have established the cycle as a benchmark in research, training, and musical dissemination in Spain, making it the flagship project of the Centre for Research and Promotion of Music (CSIPM) and a hallmark of UAM.”
The cycle exemplifies how a public university can serve as a cultural engine and a platform for the study and debut of overlooked repertoires. It combines UAM's own productions with active participation from students, performers, and the university choir. The rector emphasised the importance of nurturing such projects, asserting that “they are not accessories. They are part of what a public university should offer to society.”
Last year's edition attracted over 5,500 attendees, including a significant number of students, underscoring the cycle's aim to provide quality musical offerings to the student body.
The first concert of the season, titled “Raíces Sinfónicas. Gran Fiesta Canaria,” will take place in the Symphony Hall of the Auditorio Nacional on 26 September. Subscriptions for the entire cycle or for a limited number of concerts are now available, with discounts offered to UAM students.
