Angel Gil-Ordoñez
Encyclopedia
Angel Gil-Ordóñez has attained an outstanding reputation among Spain
’s new generation of conductors
as he carries on the tradition of his teacher and mentor, Sergiu Celibidache
. The Washington Post has praised his conducting as “mesmerizing” and “as colorfully textured as a fauvist painting.”
The former Associate Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Spain, Mr. Gil-Ordóñez has conducted symphonic music, opera and ballet throughout Europe, the United States and Latin America. In the United States, he has appeared with the American Composers Orchestra
, Opera Colorado
, the Pacific Symphony, the Hartford Symphony, the Brooklyn Philharmonic
at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
, and the National Gallery Orchestra in Washington. Abroad, he has been heard with the Munich Philharmonic, the Solistes de Berne, at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, and at the Bellas Artes National Theatre in Mexico City. In summer of 2000, he toured the major music festivals of Spain with the Valencia Symphony Orchestra in the Spanish premiere of Leonard Bernstein
’s Mass.
Born in Madrid
, he worked closely with Sergiu Celibidache
in Germany for over six years. He also studied with Pierre Boulez
and Iannis Xenakis
in France. Currently the Music Director of Post-Classical Ensemble in Washington, D.C., Mr. Gil-Ordóñez also holds the positions of Director of Orchestral Studies at Wesleyan University
in Connecticut and Music Director of the Wesleyan Ensemble of the Americas.
A specialist in the Spanish repertoire, Mr. Gil-Ordóñez has recorded four CDs devoted to Spanish composers. In June 2005, in association with the American Film Institute, Post-Classical Ensemble presented two classic American documentaries, The River and The Plow that Broke the Plains, whose scores by Virgil Thomson
were performed live. These presentations generated a state-of-the-art DVD produced by Naxos.
In 2006, the King of Spain awarded Mr. Gil-Ordóñez the country’s highest civilian decoration, the Royal Order of Queen Isabella, which is equivalent to a knighthood, for his work in advancing Spanish culture in the world, in particular for performing and teaching Spanish music in its cultural context. Between his last projects, he offered in february 2010 the World Premiere of "Four Darks in Red" by the Spanish composer Benet Casablancas
, included in the Composer Portrait celebrated at Miller Theatre at Columbia University New York.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
’s new generation of conductors
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
as he carries on the tradition of his teacher and mentor, Sergiu Celibidache
Sergiu Celibidache
- Biography :Celibidache was born in Roman, Romania, and began his studies in music with the piano, after which he studied music, philosophy and mathematics in Bucharest, Romania and then in Paris...
. The Washington Post has praised his conducting as “mesmerizing” and “as colorfully textured as a fauvist painting.”
The former Associate Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Spain, Mr. Gil-Ordóñez has conducted symphonic music, opera and ballet throughout Europe, the United States and Latin America. In the United States, he has appeared with the American Composers Orchestra
American Composers Orchestra
The American Composers Orchestra is an American orchestra based in New York City. It is the only orchestra in the world dedicated solely to the creation, performance, preservation, and promulgation of music by American composers...
, Opera Colorado
Opera Colorado
Opera Colorado is an opera company located in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1981, it presents an annual season of three to four fully staged productions...
, the Pacific Symphony, the Hartford Symphony, the Brooklyn Philharmonic
Brooklyn Philharmonic
The Brooklyn Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, commonly known as the Brooklyn Philharmonic, is an American orchestra based in the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City...
at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Academy of Music is a major performing arts venue in Brooklyn, a borough of New York City, United States, known as a center for progressive and avant garde performance....
, and the National Gallery Orchestra in Washington. Abroad, he has been heard with the Munich Philharmonic, the Solistes de Berne, at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, and at the Bellas Artes National Theatre in Mexico City. In summer of 2000, he toured the major music festivals of Spain with the Valencia Symphony Orchestra in the Spanish premiere of Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
’s Mass.
Born in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, he worked closely with Sergiu Celibidache
Sergiu Celibidache
- Biography :Celibidache was born in Roman, Romania, and began his studies in music with the piano, after which he studied music, philosophy and mathematics in Bucharest, Romania and then in Paris...
in Germany for over six years. He also studied with Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
and Iannis Xenakis
Iannis Xenakis
Iannis Xenakis was a Romanian-born Greek ethnic, naturalized French composer, music theorist, and architect-engineer. He is commonly recognized as one of the most important post-war avant-garde composers...
in France. Currently the Music Director of Post-Classical Ensemble in Washington, D.C., Mr. Gil-Ordóñez also holds the positions of Director of Orchestral Studies at Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
in Connecticut and Music Director of the Wesleyan Ensemble of the Americas.
A specialist in the Spanish repertoire, Mr. Gil-Ordóñez has recorded four CDs devoted to Spanish composers. In June 2005, in association with the American Film Institute, Post-Classical Ensemble presented two classic American documentaries, The River and The Plow that Broke the Plains, whose scores by Virgil Thomson
Virgil Thomson
Virgil Thomson was an American composer and critic. He was instrumental in the development of the "American Sound" in classical music...
were performed live. These presentations generated a state-of-the-art DVD produced by Naxos.
In 2006, the King of Spain awarded Mr. Gil-Ordóñez the country’s highest civilian decoration, the Royal Order of Queen Isabella, which is equivalent to a knighthood, for his work in advancing Spanish culture in the world, in particular for performing and teaching Spanish music in its cultural context. Between his last projects, he offered in february 2010 the World Premiere of "Four Darks in Red" by the Spanish composer Benet Casablancas
Benet Casablancas
Benet Casablancas is a Spanish composer and musicologist.- Biography :Casablancas started to study music in Barcelona and then moved to Vienna, where he attended lessons in the Vienna Academy of Music with Friedrich Cerha and Karl Heinz Füssl...
, included in the Composer Portrait celebrated at Miller Theatre at Columbia University New York.
External links
- Post-Classical Ensemble bio
- Wesleyan University Orchestra bio
- Naxos bio
- The City (DVD - Naxos 2009)
- The Plow That Broke the Plain / The River (DVD - Naxos 2007)
- The Plow That Broke the Plain / The River (CD - Naxos 2007)
- NPR interview about The Plow That Broke the Plains and The River
- WETA interview
- Washington Post video interview "On Being"
- Washington Post article (2008)
- Washington Times article (2008)
- Washington Post article (2007)