The Real Filharmonía de Galicia was born as an ambitious cultural project in Santiago de Compostela in 1996. Made up of 54 musicians and an administrative team, the orchestra is based at the Auditorio de Galicia.
In 1997, the Escuela de Altos Estudios Musicales (EAEM) was added to the project. The teaching staff of the EAEM is made up nearly entirely from the principals and co-principals of the RFG. Since January 2023, Baldur Brönnimann has been the Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of both the orchestra and the school.
The Royal Galician Philharmonic is one of the major cultural institutions of Galicia.
Initial Objectives
At the beginning of Brönnimann’s tenure, he was part of a strategic process which looked at the situation of the orchestra and defined some core values and a five year plan that would serve as a basis for the artistic future of the institution.
Some key aspects that were included:
social relevance
creation and dialogue with past and present music
commitment to the training and support of young musicians, composers and conductors.
support of innovation and the creation of new orchestral repertoire
commitment to accessibility, diversion and inclusion
interaction with the local cultural and musical ecosystem in Galicia
Artistic Strategy and initiatives
These strategic goals were articulated via several lines of action:
The closer integration of the school into the day-to-day work of the orchestra. A bigger presence and visibility of the students within the orchestral concerts and an integration of the programming of the school with the season of the orchestra.
A reduction of main series programs (from 24 to 21) at the Auditorio de Galicia to make room for more projects aimed at new audiences (educational and family concerts, concerts in non-conventional venues , workshops, scenic projects, etc..).
A series of concerts of early classical and baroque music with specialists in historically informed performance practise. This keeping in mind the history of the orchestra and to further develop the orchestra´s own identity and the character of a versatile and flexible ensemble.
The creation of a new position for an assistant conductor in order to support young conductors in their professional development.
The creation of a position of “Composer in Residence” to help to reinforce the image of the orchestra as a platform for innovation and to send the message about contemporary music being at the core of our project.
A annual week of reading sessions for new orchestral works open to all composers.
A new strand of concerts “En Foco” for new audiences. Hybrid repertoire, informal and shorter concert format.
A closer involvement and contact to audiences and subscribers. Including new platforms like periodic meetings or concerts programmed by the subscribers etc..
The 2023/24 season: Migrations
“Migrations” (Migraçons) was chosen as a title to pay homage to a historic reality that saw nearly 3 million Galicians emigrate during the 19th and 20th centuries. But equally, to connect to a present where still many young Galicians emigrate to Europe, but also many Africans, Eastern Europeans and Latin Americans migrate to Galicia looking for a better future. It was especially interesting to connect past and present in people’s lives as well as in the repertoire across the season.
Click here to see the complete 23/24 season
The 2024/25 season: Nonconformists
The history of the 19th and 20th centuries orchestral music being the history of musicians who broke rules, who opened new spaces and explored new territory. At the core of the season were the symphonies of Beethoven - and around them, a context of rule-breaking composers like Charles Ives, Héctor Berlioz, Varèse, and many important women, like Ruth Crawford Seeger, Marianne von Martinez and so on.