Barcelona Symphonic Band
The Barcelona Symphonic Band (1886) is an indispensable institution for understanding the musical history of Catalonia. Its role has evolved far beyond programming concerts and participating in official events: it is a staunch promotor of the dissemination of music, performing in front of the podium the finest works in history. The primary architect of the Band’s success was Joan Lamote de Grignon, who gave it an artistic personality and transformed it into an internationally-renowned ensemble. Even Richard Strauss directed it almost a century ago.
In 2007, the Band’s project took a big step forward, going from being the resident band at L’Auditori de Barcelona to programming a regular season of concerts that included performances by leading artists and groups in the local and international scene. Ten years later, in 2017, the Barcelona Symphonic Band (BMB) was invited to the Wasbe Conference in Utrecht and the World Music Concert (WMC) in Kerkrade, the Netherlands, consolidating it as an international reference.
The Band’s guest conductors have included: Jan Cober, Eugene Corporon, Johan de Meij, Björn Bus, Henrie Adams, Frank de Vuyst, Douglas Bostock, Manel Valdivieso, Josep Caballé Domenech and Baldur Brönnimann. In recent years, two big names in conducting –Salvador Brotons (2007-2018) and José Rafael Pascual-Vilaplana (from 2018 to the present), – have helped the BMB to increase its offering, through their commitment to recover the band repertoire and to commission new works.
Numerous renowned musicians and groups have played with the Band, including Spanish Brass, Stefan Schilli, Shoichiro Hokazono, Jörgen van Rijen, Albert Guinovart, Josep Colom, Jess Gillam, Pacho Flores, Marta Mathéu, Elena Copons, María Hinojosa Montengero, Joan Martín-Royo and Esperanza Fernández, and acclaimed artists Cesc Gelabert, Sol Picó, Àlex Casanovas, Lluís Soler, Lloll Bertran, the Obeses and La Cubana.
The Band is also committed to the dissemination task of making music accessible to vulnerable groups, through the concerts and activities organised with Apropa Cultura. Today, the Barcelona Symphonic Band is an ensemble committed to the society around it, to giving its time and actively investing in the Barcelona music scene.
