News

I am delighted to begin this academic year as a Professor of Orchestral Conducting at Musikene, a centre that has become a benchmark for musical training in our country. For me, it is a true privilege to join this artistic and academic community that nurtures the talent of so many young musicians.

Musikene is a place where opportunities flourish: students have the chance to grow surrounded by outstanding peers, passionate teachers, and an environment where music can be felt in every corner. Seeing that enthusiasm reflected in the students is, without a doubt, one of the greatest motivations a teacher can have.

I am especially excited to accompany these young conductors on a journey that I know will be as demanding as it is inspiring. Conducting an orchestra is much more than beating time: it is about learning to listen, to engage in dialogue, to inspire, and to transmit music with all its strength and sensitivity. I am certain that this academic year will bring us moments of discovery, shared effort, and musical joy.

I wish this to be a happy and fruitful stage for everyone. We begin with enthusiasm and a strong will to work!

Bilbao’s Teatro Arriaga will soon be the stage for a significant musical event: the revival of Mari-Eli, a rare and evocative zarzuela by Spanish composer Jesús Guridi. This extraordinary production will be conducted by Jon, whose enthusiasm for bringing this piece back to life reflects the broader excitement in the classical music community for this long-lost gem. Esteemed stage director Calixto Bieito will bring his distinctive vision to this performance, adding a dynamic layer to an already vibrant piece.

The staging of Mari-Eli is more than just a concert; it is a cultural recovery. With records indicating that Mari-Eli may not have been staged since before the Spanish Civil War, this production represents a unique opportunity to revive an important piece of Spain’s musical heritage. The upcoming performance is anticipated to offer audiences in Bilbao a rare glimpse into Guridi’s legacy, honoring the rich tradition of Spanish zarzuela.

Hallam Sinfonia is delighted to announce that its new Musical Director will be Jon Malaxetxebarria. He will take up the post formally in the 2023-24 season, conducting his first performance as Musical Director on 14th October 2023, which will also mark the orchestra’s 50th anniversary.

Jon says, “I am very excited to have been appointed Musical Director of Hallam Sinfonia. Our encounters thus far have been so musically rewarding, and at a personal level it is a pleasure to work with such dedicated, enthusiastic and friendly musicians. I look forward to building on what is already an excellent orchestra, and working with the Hallam Sinfonia team to programme concerts that will be memorable for both our players and our audiences alike.”

You can find more information here

Jon is delighted to resume a full schedule following the restrictions introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. His 2021-22 season in the UK includes return visits to orchestras such as the Solihull Symphony Orchestra, of which he is Music Director, the Crosby Symphony Orchestra, North Staffordshire Symphony Orchestra, Derbyshire City and County Youth Orchestra, and the Junior RNCM. In Spain he makes his debut with the Banda Municipal de Bilbao and returns to the Teatro Real in Madrid as Assistant Conductor for the production of Honegger’s Jeanne d’Arc au Bûcher. You can find Jon’s full calendar in the Schedule page.

Many of Jon’s concerts that have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak have been postponed to the 2020-21 season. You can find information about the new dates in the Schedule page. Stay safe and stay well!

On 20th April Jon will conduct the RTVE Symphony Orchestra in their 18th “Young Musicians” series. The concert will take place at the Teatro MIRA, Pozuelo de Alarcón, and will feature soprano Marta Estal and guitarist Xianji Liu, in repertoire including Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony. You can read more information here.

Jon Malaxetxebarria will take part in the Teatro Arriaga’s new season in Bilbao. On 27th and 28th January the “Esclavos Felices” festival takes place, celebrating the music of Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga, to coincide with the 210th anniversary of his birth. The film and TV director Sara Derendinger will collaborate in this “symphonic poem”, which will be directed by Calixto Bieito, with Jon Malaxetxebarria conducting the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra and the men of the Sociedad Coral de Bilbao.
You can read more information in Spanish here.

Jon is delighted to announce that Manel Sánchez Tortosa at L’Impresa Management has taken over his worldwide representation. Full contact details are available on Jon’s contact page or via L’Impresa Management’s website.

Last week Jon Malaxetxebarria received favourable reviews for his concerts in the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra’s main season.

“Elgar’s ‘Enigma Variations’ is a good piece to prove the ability of a conductor, since each variation has such contrasting personality… It was a classic interpretation in front of an orchestra that played very well for him. The young conductor Jon Malaxetxebarria had control of the score’s fluctuations and of the orchestra, and the respect of the musicians. In our opinion he has set the foundation to become an internationally recognised conductor, and we await the success that experience and hard work will bring.” (Jesús Mari Begoña, Berria)

“Malaxetxebarria rose to the huge challenge of bringing out the individuality of each variation, without losing the coherence of the work as a whole, showing good phrasing in the long melodic lines…” (Asier Vallejo Ugarte, Klassikbidea)

See the full review here (Berria, in Basque)

Listen to Jon’s interview in Spanish on Radio Euskadi here

Jon will conduct concerts in Bilbao’s impressive Palacio Euskalduna on 13th and 14th November 2014. The programme, a highlight of the orchestra’s ‘Enigmas and Legends’ themed season, will include Jesús Guridi’s ‘Una Aventura de Don Quijote’ and Elgar’s ‘Enigma’ Variations. More information about the concert can be found here.