The early days of an orchestra
Around 60 musicians conducted by A. Marsick pose during a session at the Philharmonic Society of Bilbao.
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1932
Arambarri with "his" orchestra in 1932, in the Philharmonic Society Room.
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Maurice Ravel with the Symphony Orchestra
One of the great figures of the music world who came to Bilbao to collaborate with the Symphony Orchestra was Maurice Ravel. On 10 November 1928, he was in charge of Concert no. 90, which was a concert of the Philharmonic Society.
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Bilbao Symphony Orchestra 1928-1931
From left to right and from back to front: Daniel Martinez (viola), unknown (double-bass), Antonio Vazquez (violin and subsequently viola), Nicasio Tejada (double-bass), unknown, unknown (violin), unknown (violin), unknown (violin), Bruno Muñoz (oboe and assistant conductor-to-be), Francisco Sola (clarinet), Juan Jose Regidor (double-bass), Vladimir Golschmann (conductor), unknown, Jenaro Morales (violin and concertmaster-to-be), Esteban Galdós (violin), Felipe Beraza (cello), Sixto Osorio (violin), Alicia Aretxavaleta (violin), Jacinto Unanue (trumpet), unknown (violin), Pilar Arámbarri (viola).
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Concert during the August Festival in 1928 conducted by E. Fernandez Arbós with the collaboration of Orfeón Pamplonés (programmes 86 and 87).
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Concert at the Rolling Mill of Altos Hornos de Vizcaya (Sestao), within Franco’s “Joy at Work” programme, on 10 May 1939.
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Concert broadcast on the radio in the 70s
Bilbao Symphony Orchestra was always attentive to the possibilities which the audio technology opened to them. Here we see a concert conducted by P. Pirfano and broadcast on the radio in the 70s.
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OB 50th Anniversary Concert
4 April 1972 (programme 1525). H. Szerymg on the violin greets the concertmaster J. Morales. In the background the banners with the emblems of the two entities the Orchestra Board was then under: the Provincial Council of Vizcaya and Bilbao City Council.
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Urbano Ruiz Laorden conducts a Requiem by Verdi (1981)
The ten years between 1972 and 1982 were really difficult for the maintenance of what was then called Orquesta Sinfonica de Bilbao. Those were the years of the political transition after Franco’s regime, and important social changes were taking place at that time. However, the Orchestra did not resign themselves and faced works which were difficult to stage.
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Bilbao Symphony Orchestra at the Auditorium of Madrid (programme 2045).
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Felipe Hortigüela and Ana María Hortigüela
The profession is passed down from the founders’ generation to the next: Felipe Hortigüela and Ana María Hortigüela, violinists of Bilbao Symphony Orchestra, father and daughter.
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Bilbao Symphony Orchestra at Ayala Theatre
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The Basque Band, in which many musicians from the Symphony Orchestra played during the war, in 1936.
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Retirement of Jose Gainza (clarinet)
Athletic premises on 4 July 1950. On the right of the guest of honour is the conductor J. Arámbarri, who had moved to Madrid by then.
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Alicia Arechavaleta
Born in 1901, violinist of the Symphony Orchestra until the 30s, with her violin: as a child and at the age of 95.
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OB musicians in Club Cocherito de Bilbao
In the late 70s. Felipe Hortigüela and Antonio Lopez (violin), Manuel Regidor (double-bass), and Andres Garcia (cello), with Juan Orúe (accordion).
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Four members of the Orchestra, in front of the tour wagon, probably in 1949. From left to right: Pilar Muniozguren, Rosa Lopez and Pilar Hernandez. At the back: Amparo Regidor.
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