Ibercamera 2026-2027: a Mahler season at Branford Marsalis

Barcelona"Although it seems impossible, we had never done it before. It was something we had to do," admits Josep Maria Prat, president ofIbercameraRegarding the magnificent and hopeful Requiem by Fauré. Finally, it is part of Ibercamera's 43rd season, which will include a dozen concerts at L'Auditori and the Palau de la Música from October 22, 2026 to May 26, 2027. RequiemUnder the direction of Mireia Barrera, it will be performed by the Chamber Orchestra and the heart of Barcelona Ars Nova, with soprano Núria Rial and baritone José Antonio López as soloists (November 16 at the Palau de la Música).

At a press conference at the Can Framis Museum of the Vila Casas Foundation, Prat presented a season for the Barcelona-based promoter that maintains its commitment to the great repertoire, from Beethoven to Mahler. And this time, with two programs with an American focus: the first, dedicated to Gershwin and Bernstein, performed by the WDR Funkhausorchester conducted by Wayne Williams, with soprano Leonor Martínez, winner of the Oratorio-Lied Prize at the Tenor Viñas Competition, as soloist (February 22, 2027). The program for the other American concert includes An American in Paris Gershwin's and the Suite for orchestra by Duke Ellington, featuring jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis accompanied by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. "It was a proposal that came to us by email, and we knew we couldn't pass it up," says Prat about this jazz-inspired concert that Ibercamera is sharing with the Barcelona Jazz Festival (March 8, 2027, at the Palau de la Música).

The commitment to renowned conductors remains strong, including Hungarians Martin Rajna (making his Ibercamera debut), Ádám Fischer, and the Greek-Russian Teodor Currentzis, as well as performers such as Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov (with a more accessible repertoire) and Japanese violinist Minami Yoshida.

At the inaugural concert, on October 22 at L'Auditori, Fischer will continue to showcase his Mahlerian knowledge by conducting the Symphony No. 3 with the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra, the Madrigal Choir, and the Cor Vivaldi. And in the closing concert, on May 26, 2027, at L'Auditori, Currentzis will conduct Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony with Musicaeterna. Currentzis will have a double bill this season, because on April 4 of next year he will conduct Bach's St. Matthew Passion at the Palau de la Música.

Beethoven returns to the forefront at Ibercamera in concerts such as the one by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Petr Popelka (January 23 at L'Auditori), which will perform Piano Concerto No. 4 (with Rudolf Buchbinder as soloist) and the Third Symphony EroicaMore Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5, Emperor, conducted by Martin Rajna, the Hungarian National Orchestra and pianist Dezsö Ránki (April 5, 2027 at L'Auditori); and three violin sonatas, including the Kreutzer, which will be performed by Leonidas Kavakos. The season is completed by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste, with a program dedicated to Sibelius and the Symphony No. 7 Bruckner's; and the Colombian Youth Philharmonic, under the baton of Andrés Orozco-Estrada, who will play The Firebird by Stravinsky.

Ibercamera's 2026/2027 season budget is €1.2 million, slightly higher than last year's. Season ticket revenue has increased by 3%, with overall sales growth of 3.45%. According to Josep Maria Prat, "classical music is experiencing a boom in Barcelona" and there is a sense of growing interest.