Josep Pons. Regarded as the leading Spanish conductor of his generation, Josep Pons has built strong relationships with the Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and the BBC Symphony Orchestra – the last of these including several appearances at the BBC Proms. In addition to continuing these relationships, the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons see Pons return to Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. He will also debut with the WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Konzerthausorchester Berlin and Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI.
As Music Director of Gran Teatre del Liceu he conducts a number of productions in Barcelona each season. He also holds the position of Honorary Conductor of the Orquesta Nacional de España, having previously served as their Artistic Director for nine years during which he substantially raised their international profile. He was Music Director of Orquesta Ciudad de Granada between 1994 and 2004.
Josep Pons’s discography of over 50 CDs and DVDs includes recordings of Falla and French repertoire regarded as benchmark interpretations and earning numerous awards. His recording of Noches en los jardines de España with Javier Perianes won a Choc de la Musique, Melancolía with Patricia Petibon received a Gramophone Editor’s Choice, and his collaboration with Tomatito earned him a Latin Grammy.
Josep Pons began his musical training at the prestigious Escolanía de Montserrat. The secular tradition and intense study of both polyphony and contemporary music in this centre marked his later development both musically and intellectually. In 1999 he received the Spanish National Music Prize for his outstanding work on 20th-century music.
