Widely regarded as one of the leading Spanish composers of his generation, Benet Casablancas (1956 Sabadell, Catalonia, Spain) studied in Barcelona and Vienna, and he graduated in Philosophy in the University of Barcelona, winning a PhD in musicology. His music, firmly rooted in the great modernist tradition, is notable for its great individuality, structural complexity and extraordinary richness of textural detail. In the 1990s he became more concerned with harmony, timbral differentiation and instrumental virtuosism. Critics highlight his concern for balancing constructional rigor and expressive strength, lyricism, dramatic character and whimsical register. His works are performed regularly around Europe, Canada, US, Japan and Latin America. 

Benet Casablancas  is author of the book The Humor in the Music. His first opera L´Enigma di Lea, with text by Rafael Argullol, was commissioned by Gran Teatre del Liceu de Barcelona for its 2017-18 season. In 2013 he was appointed first composer in residence for the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra and L´Auditori and was awarded with the Premi Nacional de la Generalitat de Catalunya (2007) and the most prestigious composition prize in Spain, the National Music Prize granted by the Spanish Ministry of Culture (2013).

Other upcoming World Premieres and performances include: Nagoya (Japan), Salzburg, Bayreuth, Buenos Aires and Córdoba (Argentina), Valldemossa (Mallorca), etc.

More on Benet Casablancas: here.

More information on Festive Overture.