Fundación Ibercaja will premiere Goya Symphony, a work by Joan Valent conceived as the first musical composition dedicated to Francisco de Goya y Lucientes. The piece, commissioned to mark the institution’s 150th anniversary, will arrive at concert halls in Zaragoza and Madrid in October before its digital release.
Goya Symphony to premiere in Zaragoza on October 2
The first performance of Goya Symphony will take place on October 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mozart Hall of the Zaragoza Auditorium. The Santa Cecilia Classical Orchestra will perform the work under the baton of Grzegorz Nowak, permanent associate conductor of London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, with soprano Sabina Puértolas.
The composition will travel to Madrid three days later. On October 5 at 7:30 p.m., the National Auditorium will host another performance of the composition dedicated to the Aragonese painter.
Fundación Ibercaja presented the project at the Patio de la Infanta in Zaragoza, alongside composer Joan Valent, Grzegorz Nowak and Subterfuge Classics President Carlos Galán. The institution commissioned the work as part of its 150th-anniversary program and its longstanding efforts to promote Goya’s legacy.
Joan Valent explores Goya’s world in four movements
Goya Symphony does not literally translate painting into melody. Joan Valent offers a contemporary reinterpretation of the artist’s creative world, tracing its tensions, contrasts and emotions through musical language.
The score runs for 47 minutes and is divided into four movements: I. Tinnitus / Los Caprichos / Saturn, II. Return to the Light / The Feminine, III. The Milkmaid of Bordeaux and IV. The Disasters of War. The journey ranges from the social critique of Goya’s prints to the darkness of his final period, passing through the intimacy, beauty and historical tragedy reflected in his works.
Valent, a composer and conductor trained in Mallorca, Barcelona and Los Angeles, has worked across fields including opera, contemporary classical music, flamenco, electronic music and film scores. His honors include two Grammy Awards for his work with Montserrat Caballé and the Gaudí Award for Best Original Music.
Subterfuge Classics to release the work on digital platforms on October 6
Following the Zaragoza and Madrid concerts, Goya Symphony will be released on October 6 through the Subterfuge Classics label. The work will be available on digital platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and YouTube.
The release adds a new channel for sharing a work conceived around the figure of the Aragonese painter. The initiative also comes during a period seen as a prelude to the bicentennial of Goya’s death.
