The Musical Fortnight of San Sebastian begins with a historic edition full of premieres and great names

The Musical Fortnight of San Sebastian todaybegan its  edition 86, defined by its director, Patrick Alfaya, as "an edition of many first times." From 1 August to 29 August, the festival will bring together 74 international premierconcerts and shows, with numerous premieres.

For the first time, the Fortnight will feature the Paris National Opera Orchestra, the Gewandhausorchester Orchestra in Leipzig and the University of Valencia Orchestra. The most powerful opening show will be the ballet show Requiem (s), which will incorporate rock music for the first time into the festival.

It will also be the expected debut at the closing ceremony: Leipzig Gewandhausorchester Orchestra, underthedirection of  Andris Nelson, will offer a double date on August 28  with violinistHillary Hahn and on August 29  with OrfeonSan Sebastian 

Another of the main offers of this edition will be the replenishment of the opera Amaya de Guridi Jesus on August 9 withtheparticipation of the Basque Orchestra , theEaso Choir  and a group of Basque soloists.

Donostiarratenor Xabier Anduaga  will be one of the protagonists of the Fortnight with two outstanding performances: one with the Valencia Orchestra and the Orfeon Donostiarra in the Kursaal, and the other in recital format at the Victoria Eugenia Theatre.

In addition, the festival will pay tribute to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Maurice Ravelwith a special program of the Paris Opera Orchestra, directed by\u00A0 Thomas Ades, which will also present one of its own compositions.

The programming will also include a version of the "West Side Story" concert, the return ofJordi Savallon August 24, and shows in spaces like the Victoria Eugenia theater, fromUchida's piano concerts in Mitsu to the premiere ofthechildren's opera  Nizugu .

Ambitious, varied and marked by debuts, the Musical Fortnight will be enhanced as one of the great European festivals of classical and stage music.