SPANISH DIALOGUES: Óscar Navarro, Pilar Rubio, Lithuanian Symphonic Wind Orchestra

The festival's opening concert at the LVSO Concert Hall will feature music by Spanish composer Óscar Navarro, conducted by the author himself. Navarro is one of the most prominent figures on the international wind music scene today. His work transcends the traditional boundaries of wind music and frees the orchestra from strict academic standards: he combines Spanish identity with global styles, brings film soundtrack principles into concert music, tells vivid stories through sound, and does not shy away from theatricality – musicians on stage often even become actors, conveying the color of different cultures.

Óscar Navarro is a Spanish composer, conductor, and one of the most prominent figures on the international wind music scene today. His work includes opuses ranging from monumental symphonic poems to virtuosic concertos for soloists and wind orchestra, as well as film scores. Navarro's compositions are characterized by exceptional temperament, melodiousness, and cinematic persuasiveness, which were shaped by his film music studies at the prestigious University of Southern California (USC). Navarro leads a symphony orchestra named after him (Óscar Navarro Symphony Orchestra) and collaborates with top-tier ensembles worldwide. He has received awards and nominations from the Spanish Film Academy and the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, and in 2018, he won the Buma Brass Award (Netherlands) for Best International Composer for his significant contribution to wind orchestra music.

Pilar Rubio Albalá is an internationally acclaimed violinist, winner of numerous national competitions, who performs in prestigious halls in Spain and abroad. Born in Madrid, the performer completed her studies in Spain (Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid) and furthered her education in Germany (Hochschule für Musik Freiburg) and the USA (Indiana University String Academy). She balances her solo career with work in renowned orchestras, activities with the 'OctOver' ensemble, and teaching at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid.