Joaquín Rodrígo: Concierto de Aranjuez
Ana Vidović, Alexander Liebreich

A perfect summer evening in the spectacular Palau de la Música València where the Orquesta de Valencia, one of the great Spanish symphony orchestras, performs Joaquín Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez”, one of the most famous works of the 20th century, under the direction of chief conductor Alexander Liebreich. The soloist on the classical guitar is the internationally acclaimed and multi-award-winning Croatian guitarist Ana Vidovic – one of the most impressive classical guitarists of our time.

The Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo was always closely associated with València – it is the city where he grew up, studied, and later married. Since its foundation 80 years ago, the Orquesta de València has also identified with the heritage of Valencian culture, its composers, and the music of its homeland.

The “Concierto de Aranjuez”, a tribute to the summer residence of Spanish kings, is still one of the most popular concerts in music history. With countless variations – from Paco de Lucía’s flamenco improvisations to jazz versions with Chet Baker or Miles Davis, and to film music – it has influenced the genre boundaries like no other classical work and is part of universal culture.

The half-hour concert is a synthesis of the most diverse elements of Spanish music. It was quickly regarded abroad as the flagship of Spanish culture – and Joaquín Rodrigo as its ambassador. Interwoven with the concert recording, the documentary part of the program takes us to the Royal Gardens in Aranjuez, where Rodrigo was inspired to write his “Concierto de Aranjuez”. In interviews with conductor Alexander Liebreich, soloist Ana Vidovic and Cecilia Rodrigo, the composer’s daughter, we learn about the genesis of the work, how it was received and what the musicians associate with it.