Juanjo Mena Conducts Debussy and Ginastera

Spanish music director Juanjo Mena conducts the Montreal Symphonic Orchestra, evoking images of Spain and Argentina through music.

• On Wednesday, April 17 at 7:30 pm. Buy tickets.
• On Thursday, April 18 at 10:30 am. Buy tickets.
• On Thursday, April 18 at 7:30 pm. Buy tickets.

Program

Maestro Juanjo Mena, known for dynamic and precise conducting, will lead the OSM in a program featuring the harp. Ginastera’s Harp Concerto, inspired by Argentinian dances, highlights the expressive qualities of this elegant instrument. Debussy’s Images, a triptych, showcases his poetic imagination, including evocations of his imagined Spain.

• Pierné: Ramuntcho, ‘‘Overture’’ (8 minutes)
• Ginastera: Harp Concerto, op. 25 (25 minutes)
• Debussy: Images, L. 122 (40 minutes)

Artists

• Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
• Juanjo Mena, conductor
• Jennifer Swartz, OSM Principal Harp

Juanjo Mena

Juanjo Mena began his conducting career in Spain as the Artistic Director of the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra in 1999. He gained international recognition as the Principal Guest Conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic and Chief Guest Conductor of the Orchestra del Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa. In 2011, he became the Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic, leading the orchestra for seven seasons and achieving acclaim for performances of Bruckner and Schubert symphonies, as well as Spanish and South American repertoire interpretations. Mena also served as the Principal Conductor of the Cincinnati May Festival, revitalizing the festival’s repertoire and expanding its audience.

As a sought-after guest conductor, Mena has led top European ensembles and major orchestras in North America, including the Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He regularly appears with orchestras in Spain and has conducted the NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo. Mena’s upcoming engagements include performances with the Teatro Real Orchestra at Lincoln Center and returns to various European and North American orchestras.

In the opera realm, Mena conducted works such as Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman and Strauss’ Salome, among others. His discography includes recordings with the BBC Philharmonic, receiving critical acclaim for his interpretations. Mena studied conducting with Sergiu Celibidache and was awarded the Spanish National Music Award in 2016. He resides in his native Basque Country with his family.