Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia, Symphony Hall, Birmingham | 11 April 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by David Gray & Paul Gray

Photo credit: Warner-Classics-Erato

Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia

Symphony Hall, Birmingham | 11 April 2026 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by David Gray & Paul Gray

“An evocative, Spanish themed programme, delivered with flare by an excellent orchestra and soloist.”

Rogelio Groba - Danzas meigas No 1 ‘Tema do peregrino e Danza da primavera’

Manuel de Falla – The Dances, from The Three-Cornered Hat

Joaquin Rodrigo – Concierto de Aranjuez

Maurice Ravel – Mother Goose Suite

Joaquin Turina – Sinfonia Sevillana

Maurice Ravel – Boléro

The concert opened with Groba’s Danzas meigas No 1 ‘Tema do peregrino e Danza da primavera’. Not such a well-known composer on these shores. However, his short, well crafted work gave us a preview of what to expect from this excellent orchestra. They delivered the work with vibrant immediacy and razor sharp ensemble. The string’s in particular played with an enormous range of colour; from the earthy to the soaringly ethereal.

More distinctly Spanish flavour followed in the form of Three Dances from de Falla’s The Three-Cornered Hat. This fabulously well orchestrated work brought out the strengths of each section. It felt like the orchestra was in its happy place; playing with a deep, shared connection and understanding of the music.

Guitarist, Thibaut Garcia and conductor Roberto González-Monjas worked hand in glove during Rodrigo’s well-known and much loved Concierto de Aranjuez. As a result, they delivered a frankly revelatory reading; alternating light, almost lute-like textures, with surges of power.

Garcia gave a well contoured and effortlessly charming first movement. There was exquisitely clean and detailed playing from soloist and orchestra alike. The ravishing Adagio shone a light into hitherto unseen wells of emotional depth. The final movement positively danced - with its feet barely touching the ground. Simply wonderful.

In the second half, Basque-born composer, Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite is charming, and gave the orchestra another chance to flaunt its technical accomplishment. The final Fairy Garden movement was particularly lush and haunting.

Joaquin Turina’s Sinfonia Sevillana is very much a set of musical postcards. This is really not a distinguished work, nevertheless the orchestra delivered it flawlessly.

For the final item, we are back to Ravel and his timeless Boléro. Strong, bluesy and characterful soloists shone through the texture. González-Monjas built the tension slowly and remorselessly to a monumental climax. A tiny detail, but at times it was impossible to hear the famous snare-drum obbligato. However, the overall impact of the work was magnificent.

Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia

Roberto González-Monjas – Conductor

Thibaut Garcia - Guitar