2023 Edition Pressclipping
Broadcast
Informativos Telecinco 1
30 june 2023
Informativos Telecinco 2
30 june 2023
TVE Telexornal Galicia 1.
26 june 2023
TVE Telexornal Galicia 2.
26 june 2023
TVE Telexornal Galicia 1.
29 june 2023
TVE Telexornal Galicia 2.
29 june 2023
TVE Canal 24 Horas News.
27 june 2023
TVE Canal 24 Horas News. Interview
7 may 2023
TVG A Revista. Noticia y cierre
3 may 2023
Radio
RNE Radio Clásica La Dársena.
20 de june de 2023
RNE Crónica de Galicia. Interview
2 may 2023
Radio Galega A Tarde. Interview
26 june 2023
Radio Galega A Tarde. Interview
2 may 2023
Cadena SER Arosa. Interview
2 may2023
Cadena SER Arosa. Interview
20 june 2023
Cadena SER Arosa. Interview
26 june 2023
Cadena SER Arosa. Interview
28 june 2023
Cadena SER Arosa. Interview
29 june 2023
Cadena SER Arosa. Interview
30 june 2023
Cadena SER Arosa. Interview
4 july 2023
Cadena COPE Pontevedra. Interview
26 june 2023
Newspapers and Digital Media
On Saturday, the performance by Cello Republic, a worldwide reference, brought the sixth edition of Clasclás to a close in grand style. Clasclás is a classical music festival that Vilagarcía has successfully established year after year, with an educational vocation that, on this occasion, managed to gather more than five thousand people around it. The remarkable Czech quartet, composed of Petr Spacek, Jan Zemen, Matej Stepanek, and Ivan Vokác, sold out the 750 seats of the municipal auditorium in a grand finale that allowed the audience to enjoy the immense possibilities of the cello.
"The assessment is magnificent, surpassing our most optimistic expectations," emphasizes Rosina Sobrido, director of the festival and the Vilagarcía Conservatory of Music. Not only because of the audience, who embraced the cause of classical music, but above all, for the students targeted by the master classes, parallel to the open program. "They have been amazed and gained teachings that they would never have received otherwise, and they will undoubtedly be very beneficial," says Sobrido. The organization wants to express gratitude for the professionalism, humanity, and contributions made by the artists, and highlight the talent of the young musicians from the conservatory, creators of the social and community program, as well as the street performances.
The Czech Republic contains another republic, with no physical territory and only four permanent citizens, but capable of temporarily expanding its borders to welcome all who wish to join. This expansion will take place this Saturday at the Clasclás Festival (Vilagarcía Auditorium, 9:00 PM) during the performance of Cello Republic. The four cellists—Petr Spacek, Jan Zemen, Matej Stepanek, and Ivan Vokac—are making their debut in Spain with their unique proposal, allowing them to transition from Baroque to Classicism, from jazz to Broadway, from pop to rock. Dvorak and Kachaturian coexist with Stevie Wonder and Freddie Mercury with complete naturalness, interpreted always with the rigor and quality of their academic training, as emphasized by one of the members, Petr Spacek.
—You are making your debut in Spain with a sold-out performance, a strong endorsement of your proposal.
—I think the music we make is a bit outside the boundaries of classical music. It attracts a variety of people. Our audience ranges from three to eighty or ninety years old. I believe our proposal is very accessible to a broad audience, not just classical music enthusiasts. However, we all have classical training; we have studied, and we want to bring that quality to all the genres we play, such as jazz or pop, even rock.
—Do you think there are still people who avoid live classical music because they perceive it as too rigid and formal?
—As a child, my father was a cellist in the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, and he used to take me to concerts. I was six or seven years old, and two hours of classical music was too much for me. My favorite part was when the performance was over, and everyone was waiting for encores. I loved it; it seemed like the most fun, and it was the part I enjoyed the most. I think our program is more focused on pieces that you could play as an encore, and people usually love that. I think it is very accessible to all kinds of audiences and tastes.
—Was that when you started playing the cello? Did you not think of rebelling against your father's figure and choosing another instrument?
—I chose the instrument when I was six years old. My brother is a violinist, quite famous now, and he has the same name as my father, Josef. Since he was older than me, he always teased me, saying that because we had the same name, he played better. So, I decided to choose the cello and imitate my father. Of course, the beginnings were not easy. I even stopped playing at the age of ten because I had a very demanding teacher, and I was not ready for it, but at twelve, I fell in love with the cello for life.
—Why are strings so well played in the Czech Republic?
—In the Czech Republic, we have a popular saying; I'll try to translate it. Basically, it says that in every Czech, there is a musician inside. Maybe it's part of our natural heritage, but we produce very good musicians. I can't explain it. Every country has its different way of emphasizing music, but the traditional music that inspires us, plus the sum of those diverse accents, converge in our music. But that also happens in Spain. When I hear Spanish classical musicians, also cellists, I perceive something very special in their way of playing that makes it different from other countries. So, yes, I think there is something special in the Czech Republic, but also in Spain and other countries. There are Spanish musicians that I love.
—Pau Casals must be an essential reference for you.
—Oh, definitely. I studied for several years in the United States and worked with Casals's Bach suites; they are very interesting. He didn't use a standard tuning but had variations, making it very different from other interpretations. He is a legend.
—There is a very particular sound in the recordings of Eastern European formations, where classical music also played a significant role in education. Does that still weigh, is it noticeable today?
—I think it is still part of us. The regime was very tough on the population. In the Czech Republic, the orchestras are almost 100% Czech. In other orchestras worldwide, there is a mix of musicians from different countries, but in the Czech Republic, almost all of them were from the country. At the same time, you didn't have freedom; you couldn't express yourself, and that weighed on the atmosphere. I believe there is a connection between those hard times, having an authoritarian regime, and working hard for the arts. I think something good ultimately came out of that very difficult time.
—Now, orchestras have musicians from many different backgrounds, all united by the common goal of music, which is almost a "lingua franca" spoken worldwide.
—When I studied at the conservatory in Boston, I think only 10% were Americans, and the rest were from China, Korea, Japan, a lot of people from Israel, Armenia... It's incredible that classical music, no matter where you are, in Europe, Asia, America, or Africa, when you talk about Bach, Brahms, Beethoven, everyone knows what you're talking about. And it endures over time. Classical music connects people worldwide.
The Quiroga Quartet secures the penultimate slot at Clasclás.
La Voz de Galicia. 1 july 2023
"The sixth edition of Clasclás is moving towards its culmination tonight with the Czech quartet Cello Republic, who arrive at the Vilagarcía auditorium with sold-out seats. Just as the members of the Quiroga Quartet did last night, captivating the audience on the fifth day of the classical music festival. 'Their exercise in decentralization and democratization of artistic creation is a milestone of extraordinary value,' emphasized Cibrán Sierra, a Galician member of the ensemble."
Double date with classical music.
La Voz de Galicia. 30 june 2023
Yesterday, there was a double appointment with classical music. In the morning, the concert of the social and community program took place, attended by three hundred people with different abilities from about fifteen associations. In the evening, it was La Ritirata's turn. For today, once again at nine in the evening and in the auditorium, the concert of the Quiroga Quartet is scheduled, again with sold-out tickets.
Azahar Ensemble crowned another day of Clasclás.
La Voz de Galicia. 29 june 2023
Azahar Ensemble performed yesterday at Pazo da Golpelleira in a new day of the International Classical Music Festival of Vilagarcía de Arousa - Clasclás 2023. Today there will be a double session. On one hand, the concert of the social and community program at eleven in the auditorium, and on the other, the appointment with La Ritirata in the auditorium.
Azahar Ensemble takes over from Marek Kozák at A Golpelleira.
La Voz de Galicia. 28 june 2023
"We feel privileged to have inaugurated this sixth edition." With these words, the Guarneri Trio Prague concluded last night the opening concert of Clasclás, the international classical music festival that sold out the 750 seats of Vilagarcía's main cultural venue. The repertoire the members presented began with the Elegy Op. 23 by Czech composer Josef Suk, composed as a tribute to writer Julius Zeyer upon his death. They then performed Brahms' Trio Op. 8 in B Major in its final version from 1891, concluding with Schubert's Trio Op. 100. Its second movement, Andante con moto, was featured in the soundtrack of Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece, Barry Lyndon. "For us," the musicians emphasized, "it has been an enormous pride to inaugurate the festival for the third consecutive time."
The second day will feature the young Czech pianist Marek Kozák, who will perform in the auditorium starting at 9:00 PM. Admission, of a free nature, must be obtained in advance at ataquilla.com. The virtuoso performer, at just thirty years old, has stood out in prestigious competitions such as the Geza Anda in Zurich, the Prague Spring, the Bremen Piano Competition, and the Busoni in Bolzano. The repertoire he brings to Vilagarcía includes compositions by Bach, Rachmaninov, and Mendelssohn. His fidelity to musical notation, his wide range of expression, and profound musicality are aspects that critics highlight in the musician.
Kozák has also been responsible for opening the program of masterclasses, the educational project that the festival launches with the participation of students from the professional conservatory of music in Vilagarcía. The performer gave two piano classes over the weekend. This educational aspect will continue with piano, violin, and cello classes by the Guarneri Trio, flute, clarinet, and horn classes by the Azahar Ensemble, and a session by La Ritirata on Thursday.
Clasclás, the classical music festival that is a reference in Galicia and enjoys great prestige throughout Spain, will inaugurate its sixth edition in Vilagarcía on Monday. The event will take place at nine in the evening in the municipal auditorium, and admission will be free, but tickets must be obtained in advance at ataquilla.com. On stage will be the Guarneri Trio Prague, a group with an impeccable trajectory celebrating 37 years on stage and a very special connection with this festival since it took over its artistic direction three years ago.
"We want to continue consolidating the idea developed with the festival since our arrival: all concerts must be of high artistic quality and with proven interpretative solvency," says the Guarneri Trio Prague. Therefore, "we invite soloists and groups, virtuosos and talented individuals to offer unforgettable concerts and experiences," they add. This year's event will feature performances not only from the Guarneri Trio but also from prominent international artists such as Cello Republic and Marek Kozák. Three very important Spanish musical formations, Cuarteto Quiroga, La Ritirata, and Azahar Ensemble, will also be part of the lineup, demonstrating a clear commitment to including national musicians. Among these formations, two fantastic Galician musicians, Antonio Lagares and Cibrán Sierra, will also participate.
For the opening day, Cenek Pavlik on the violin, Marek Jerie on the cello, and Ivan Klansky on the piano have prepared a repertoire that includes works by Suk, Brahms, and Schubert. The members of the Guarneri Trio Prague have remained the same since 1986, a testament to the high human quality of its musicians and the intense friendship that binds them. After this first concert, there will be five more, highlighting the excellent artistic program that, once again, Vilagarcía residents will be able to enjoy in a privileged way. Four of these performances will be free.
But Clasclás is not only about enjoying the best live music. The festival will include a program of masterclasses where young students can receive lessons from the artists of the participating groups. It will be a unique opportunity to learn from the best. In fact, the closing concert of the program will be led by students, who will accompany the Guarneri Trio Prague on stage. It will take place on July 1, at 12:30 PM, at Pazo de Rubianes. Another event in the festival's program is the traditional concert of the social and community program. 400 spectators from 20 associations with different disabilities will be able to enjoy the performance of the orchestra from the professional conservatory of music in Vilagarcía. It will take place on June 29, at 11:00 AM, in the auditorium.
"The Czech quartet Cello Republic will be in charge of closing the sixth edition of the classical music festival in Vilagarcía, Clasclás. The event is scheduled for July 1 at nine in the evening in the auditorium and will surprise those who attend as the cellists combine classical pieces with songs by Freddie Mercury, Stevie Wonder, or Frank Sinatra. However, there are no tickets left for this performance.
Cello Republic is formed by three members of the original Prague Cello Republic, who have maintained the essence of the previous group. A formation that garnered millions of views through social media. "It will be the last concert of the festival, which we always conceive as a final, different, joyful event, with more commercial and well-known music. A group of the highest artistic and virtuosic quality that arises from the separation of the Prague Cello Quartet, as three of its former members are part of Cello Republic. A worldwide reference in arrangements of classical, pop, rock, and musical music, as their quality combined with the virtuosity of their performers achieves spectacular and incomparable performances, to which the quartet adds a good dose of humor," explains Rosina Sobrido, the director of the classical music festival in Vilagarcía.
For their part, the members of the quartet do not hide their satisfaction at making their debut in Spain. "We are very happy because we have played all over the world, but it will be the first time we perform in Spain. We will do it at the Clasclás festival, with which we share the same philosophy: presenting a great variety of music to a wide audience, allowing them to enjoy a fresh and new proposal. There are really great musicians playing at the festival, and we are happy to be able to perform at Clasclás. The audience will be able to hear Tchaikovsky, Dvorák, Kachaturian, jazz, swing, Broadway musicals, or rock music in our repertoire," explains Jan Zemen, one of the group's members.
Bringing classical music closer
"We are four cellists who grew up as classical musicians. We realized that classical music was increasingly moving away from conventional listeners and classical music enthusiasts like us. We all need to listen to lighter and more fun music from time to time. That is our mission, and that's why we are here. We present music of all styles (baroque, classicism, romanticism, jazz, swing, film music, popular, modern, etc.), demonstrating that the cello is the best musical instrument and that we can enjoy almost all kinds of music together in a single concert," emphasizes Zemen, who forms the quartet with Petr Spacek, Matej Stepanek, and Ivan Vokác."
"Music receives very little attention, and it is such a powerful weapon!".
La Voz de Galicia. 11 june 2023
"This story begins in a car: the car in which Rosina Sobrido traveled with her parents. 'They loved to sing duets,' and, in general, they loved music. 'It was very important to both of them,' and that's why, as their offspring grew older, they were given the opportunity to play a musical instrument. 'They didn't succeed with my brothers,' says Rosina. However, she started playing the piano at the age of six and never stopped. At eleven, she had to choose between ballet and music. 'And although I loved ballet, I discovered that I liked the piano more.' Thus began a career that took her to Santiago to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Piano and then to Prague for a two-year postgraduate program in Piano Performance. 'When someone asked my parents what I was studying, they would say piano, and people would ask them again. But what else?' Like John Lennon's Aunt Mimi, they thought that music 'won't put food on the table.'
Fortunately, neither Rosina nor her parents paid attention to the naysayers. They continued to strive because 'back then, all music studies had to be paid for. I owe everything I have achieved to my parents.' She gave her best, and after completing her training, she began working in music schools in Caldas, A Coruña, Santiago, etc. Nineteen years ago, she landed at the Conservatory of Music in Vilagarcía. The place from which, in 2017, a classical music festival was born that, starting on June 26, will once again make the city the capital of classical music. We are talking about Clasclás.
'The conservatory had participated in several editions of the Mostra Musical do Eixo Atlántico,' explains Rosina. In fact, there came a time when much of the weight of organizing that event fell on Arousa. That was when the idea of overhauling all that effort began to sprout, 'doing things differently, so that this effort would be more beneficial for Vilagarcía.' Thus was born the idea of creating a festival that, despite the pandemic and all the setbacks it caused, is now in its sixth edition, which will once again dispel myths and stereotypes about classical music. This music is 'neither elitist nor boring. No, emphatically, no. It is neither one nor the other,' says Rosina. Clasclás has proven it and will continue to do so. The festival held in Vilagarcía 'is free, which is a differentiating factor compared to other events.' This gratuity is due to 'a commitment to democratize access to culture, so that everyone who wants to attend a concert can do so.' This commitment, shared by the conservatory and the Vilagarcía City Council, has forced Clasclás to 'lock ourselves in here, in the auditorium' to ensure the maximum possible capacity.
Having ruled out the label of elitism, what about the assertion that classical music is boring? 'In the Clasclás program, we always include a concert that is a bit different. This edition's would be Cello Republic,' a group formed by cello virtuosos who will interpret pieces known worldwide. 'Classical music is everywhere; we are tired of hearing it in TV commercials, movie soundtracks, documentaries... And almost everyone likes it,' says Sobrino. She promises that this year's Clasclás program will be full of surprises capable of winning new followers for the cause. She cites the performance of La Ritirata as an example, which will offer a concert of ancient music. 'By the name, it might seem like it's going to be somewhat monotonous... Well, it's quite the opposite. It is very cheerful music... And it will be performed with instruments adapted to the time, so it will sound as similar as possible to how it was heard back then.'
Another of the concerts that excites the person behind this musical dream that is Clasclás is the one offered each year to people with functional diversity. 'It is very important to us. Think that these are people who usually cannot go to anything, who are systematically excluded... Well, it can't be like that; they have to be able to enjoy everything, including music.' And music, 'is part of Western culture, like painting, sculpture, architecture, or literature.' Moreover, it is 'the only discipline that integrates mathematics, physics, history... It is the universal language par excellence. Music is given little attention, and it is such a powerful weapon!' concludes the director of the conservatory with the vehemence of someone who knows how it can improve by hitting the right key."
Vilagarcía democratizes classical music through the Clasclás festival.
La Voz de Galicia. 3 may 2023
For several years now, Vilagarcía has maintained a high profile in the musical realm, encompassing both its more popular forms like the Atlantic Fest and As Revenidas, as well as what is probably wrongly termed high culture. Clasclás, a classical music festival entering its sixth edition, is the most refined expression of this particular endeavor to democratize access to areas often reserved for a minority audience. The statement comes from the mayor of the city, Alberto Varela, who joined the director of the local conservatory, Rosina Sobrido, in presenting a program that will unfold between June 26 and July 1.
As a prelude, students from the conservatory and the municipal music school will perform in various streets, squares, and historical spaces in Vilagarcía over the preceding weekend. The inauguration will be by the Guarneri Trio from Prague, which has assumed the artistic direction of the festival for the past two years and will offer a concert with pieces by Suk, Brahms, and Schubert at the city's auditorium on June 26, starting at nine in the evening. The schedule and venue will remain the same for five of the six central events of Clasclás. The main hall of the cultural complex has 754 seats, so space should not be an issue. It will also host performances by pianist Marek Kozák (June 27), La Ritirata, the early music ensemble led by Josetxu Obregón (June 29), the Quiroga Quartet, acclaimed by The New York Times (June 30), and the cellos of Cello Republic, with millions of YouTube views, performing in Spain for the first time (July 1).
These five performances will be free. Tickets can be reserved on the ataquilla.com website or the festival's website, www.clasclas.com, which should be available from this afternoon. The exception is the concert on June 28 by the Azahar Ensemble wind quintet at the A Golpelleira palace. A final session, part of the master class program, will take place on July 1, in the morning, at the Pazo de Rubianes. It includes a visit and reservations must also be made on its virtual page: www.pazoderubianes.com.
In addition to the artistic and educational aspects, a third element is introduced this time: a social program that will bring four hundred people with functional diversity to the Vilagarcía auditorium, as a result of collaboration between the City Council and about twenty associations operating in the O Salnés region. It will be the conservatory orchestra that performs a repertoire that will be "a prize for everyone," in the words of its director.
Artists Featured:
- Guarneri Trio from Prague: Cenek Pavlík (violin), Marek Jerie (cello), and Ivan Klánsky (piano). One of the most recognized piano trios in the world of classical music, celebrating 37 years of playing together in 2023.
- Marek Kozák: Piano. A virtuoso pianist with notable achievements in prestigious competitions such as the Geza Anda in Zurich, the Primavera in Prague, the European Piano Competition in Bremen, and the Busoni in Bolzano.
- Azahar Ensemble: Diego Aceña (flute), María Alba Carmona (oboe), Antonio Lagares (horn), María José García (bassoon), Miquel Ramos (clarinet). A Spanish wind quintet that won the 63rd International ARD Competition in Munich in 2014.
- La Ritirata: Tamar Lalo (recorder), Daniel Zapico (theorbo, guitar), Daniel Garay (percussion), Josetxu Obregón (baroque cello and artistic director). An early music ensemble directed by cellist Josetxu Obregón, with constant concert activity in Europe, America, and Asia.
- Quiroga Quartet: Aitor Hevia (violin), Cibrán Sierra (violin), Josep Puchades (viola), Helena Poggio (cello). Praised by The New York Times for their "exquisite and fresh interpretations," the Quiroga Quartet has become one of the most dynamic and unique quartets of its generation.
- Cello Republic: Petr Spacek, Jan Zemen, Matej Stepanek, Ivan Vokac. Award-winning cellists known for their concerts and YouTube performances, combining virtuosity, high-quality artistic arrangements, and a touch of appropriate humor.
"With a cello, you can play all styles of music."
Faro de Vigo. 1 july 2023
"The chamber music enthusiast is well-prepared, in a way, for any expression."
Faro de Vigo. 30 june 2023
"Azahar Ensemble takes center stage on the third day of Clasclás in Vilagarcía."
Faro de Vigo. 29 june 2023
"The Azahar Ensemble quintet took center stage on the third day of the Clasclás festival in Vilagarcía with their performance at the iconic Pazo de A Golpilleira. The group began their performance with a work by Mozart and interpreted music by Foerster, Ravel, or Joaquín Turina, among others. The festival will continue in the coming days with the performance of 'La Ritirata,' one of the most relevant international groups in ancient music. Tomorrow will be the turn of 'Cuarteto Quiroga,' which will take the stage at the municipal auditorium to offer the penultimate performance of the festival with music by Haydn, Bartok, and Brahms. The sixth edition of Clasclás will conclude with the concert by the Czech quartet Cello Republic on Saturday. The theme of the festival in this edition has been 'Allegro, ma non troppo!'"