Emirates Palace Auditorium was filled with audience coming specially to enjoy the Valentine’s Gala with Spanish passion and Italian romance where the renowned Prague Chamber Orchestra lead by conductor Jordi Bernacer performed two of the most popular classical music masterpieces; Joaquin Rodrigo, Concerto de Aranjuez and Antonio Vivaldi, The Four Seasons.
Spanish guitarist Jose Maria Gallardo del Rey and Dutch violinist Isabelle van Keulen brought magic to the pieces as they performed.
Gallardo del Rey is among the few soloists to have cultivated guitar music to reach beyond the classical repertoire, frequently lending his talents to different performance arts such as ballet, theatre, opera, flamenco and jazz. He is also musical director of the acclaimed chamber ensemble La Maestranza, a septet with whom he performs his own compositions.
On the other hand, Jordi Bernacer is considered one of the most sought-after musicians of her generation; van Keulen has established a reputation on many of the world’s foremost concert platforms and has appeared with numerous leading ensembles.
Spanish conductor Jordi Bernacer led the Orchestra with his great talent. Bernacer has conducted most of the major orchestras of Spain as well as Camerata Musica Wien and other ensembles in Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania.
The Prague Chamber Orchestra was formed in 1951 by players from the Czechoslovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, initially to serve as a smaller ensemble for programming older Bohemian music. In addition to its annual concert series and festival appearances in Prague, the ensemble performs regularly throughout Europe and overseas.
The second season of Abu Dhabi Classics, organised by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) from October 23 till next May, features distinguished world-class performers that reflects the importance of music as an integral part of the culture of any society.
