Euskadiko Orkestrak revives Aita Donostia's avant-garde Musical Work

Euskadiko Orkestrak is staging a production of La vie profonde de Saint François d'Assise, an ambitious musical work by Aita Donostia.

The orchestra will perform the piece across several locations, including Donostia, Bilbao, Gasteiz, and Iruñe, from December until November 11. The original work premiered in Paris in November 1926 but has had a limited history since then. Aita Donostia, a composer known for his connection to Basque folklore, created the piece after collaborating with actor Henri Gheon.

The composition features avant-garde elements like polytonality and reflects influences from composers such as Stravinsky. Because the work was originally intended as a theatrical experience rather than a simple concert, the orchestra had to redesign the project to include a professional team to manage the complex dramaturgy. The production features a mix of actors and musicians, including Annie Dutoit-Argerich as Saint François d'Assise and Luken Mungira as the young Saint François.

The Easo Abesbatzak and Easo Gazter choirs also participate in the performance. The project uses a new critical edition by Josu Okiñen and an adaptation of Gheon's work by playwright David Ferre. The performance will be in French with Spanish subtitles to maintain its original character while making it accessible to the audience.