The Vienna Philharmonic dazzles (and fills) the Princesa Leonor Auditorium with a perfect opening

With the punctuality and perfection of a Swiss watch (although in this case it would be correct to say Viennese), the Vienna Philharmonic landed at 7.30 pm this Wednesday at the Auditorium of Zaragoza (from today also the Princess Leonor) ready to demonstrate why it is one of the most prestigious groups in the world. It did so in the extraordinary concert of the 30th anniversary of the Auditorium in a perfect season opening, judging by the number of people who filled the most impressive of the halls: the Mozart. 1,914 seats filled in a packed hall that was eager to see, for the second time in the history of the Auditorium of Zaragoza, the Vienna Philharmonic.

It was the second time in history that the ensemble came to Zaragoza, but it was the first time in history that it did so performing Stravinsky’s Apollo Musagète and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10 in E Minor. The first to come out was the Philharmonic’s string section, which thrilled and dazzled a devoted audience during the 30 minutes of the first part and the 57 of the second.

The ovation and endless applause have resounded in what is classified as one of the best auditoriums in Spain and Europe. It is not just us who say it, but Zubin Metha endorsed and praised the acoustics of the venue a few years ago. This was recalled by the Mayor of Zaragoza, Natalia Chueca, in her speech prior to the start of the Philharmonic concert.

“There are days in the calendar that mark milestones and today is one of them. Today we open a very special season, the 30th anniversary of the Zaragoza Auditorium with one of the most prestigious orchestras in the world. In addition, today we make it official that we are in the Princess Leonor Auditorium of Zaragoza with this renaming that we do to pay homage to our future queen. The Auditorium has been endorsed by its excellent acoustics being one of the best in Europe and during these 30 years Maestro Tapia has managed to bring the best classical music to Zaragoza,” he acknowledged.

He also praised and thanked the 1,500 season ticket holders this year for breaking records with season ticket sales because “this means that every year we can continue to bring the best classical music to the city,” he said. And the best music in Europe opened the floodgates today with the Vienna Philharmonic, which with its “Viennese sound” captivated an audience whose hands almost hurt from clapping so much. The group gives approximately 40 concerts a year, including the popular New Year’s Concert.

However, the 30th anniversary season of the Auditorio Princesa Leonor in Zaragoza has only just begun. On October 7th at 8:30 pm it will offer a very special, free concert in the Plaza del Pilar with its resident orchestra, the ORA, which will perform classics such as Bizet’s “Carmen” or Verdi’s “Nabucco”. The programme also includes concerts by the Berlin Philharmonic, the Helsinki Philharmonic, the pianist Lang-Lang or the Japanese Midori.

ZARAGOZA AUDITORIUM PRINCESS LEONOR

The Zaragoza Auditorium has inaugurated its new name this Wednesday as the Zaragoza Princesa Leonor Auditorium. It has done so officially after the City Council’s plenary session on November 30 approved the name change with the support of the PP and VOX, the abstention of the PSOE and the vote against ZeC.

This is already evident in the official communication in which the Royal House approved this change of name and which now appears at the entrance to the press room of the Auditorium. For the City Council of Zaragoza this change of name is a way of honouring the future heiress and of recognising her work and her stay at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza.