The Young Orchestra of Euskal Herria (EGO) celebrates its 25th anniversary. In these quarry years we have seen an interesting evolution. Because we are less and less surprised by the quality of this group, because we are increasingly expecting more. And the EGO never fails.

The program offered on this winter tour has been carefully selected to make sense in the times we are living. And I was also talking about that interpretative evolution.

The concert started with the handsome Peer Gynt from Norwegian Edward Grieg. In fact, this composition is an incidental composed music for a play by the Norwegian Henrik Ibsen. But the score was so successful that the composer decided to extract some parts and group them into two suite. It is a miracle of orchestral color, melodic inspiration, dyed with the folkloric touch of Grieg. The members of the EGO were fully aware of the translation of all the nuances provided by the director Rubén Gimeno. It was a simple and colorful interpretation.

They later interpreted one of the largest Scandinavian nationalist works Finland by Jan SIbelius. The work, of about seven minutes duration, takes place at a turbulent pace and style, with a great orchestral load, symbolizes the oppression and struggle of the Finnish people, finished with a hymn of hope. This piece was composed of patriotic motives to mobilize popular opposition to the abolition of Finnish autonomy by the government of the Russian Empire. The different titles he received to mock the censorship of the tsarists became famous, including Happy Feelings at Finland’s Spring Dawn. The EGO performed a vivid version, without great nuances, but rhythmically very correct.

The program continued with one of the largest corals of Vaughan Williams: Towards the unknown region, an inspirational piece featuring the Euskal Herria Youth Choir. They certainly offered a very spirit of interpretation.

And the concert ended with the dramatic oratory Gernika by Pablo Sorozábal, remembering the horror of the bombings over the city. On the 125th anniversary of the birth of the composer, this work could not be missed. The interpretation of the youth choir and the orchestra of the Basque Country was intense and full of nuances.

As a bis, Christmas songs could not be missed. Pure joy.