Presided over by Their Majesties The King and Queen of Spain, accompanied by Their Royal Highnesses The Princess of Asturias and Infanta Sofía, the Princess of Asturias Awards Concert is held in Oviedo on the eve of the Awards Ceremony as part of a week characterized by intense cultural activity. The concert is organized in collaboration with the Cajastur Foundation.
Over successive years, this concert has been conducted or participated in by some of the most prominent names on the contemporary music scene such as Vladimir Spivakov; 1994 Prince of Asturias Laureate for the Arts Alicia de Larrocha; 2004 Prince of Asturias Laureate for Concord Daniel Barenboim; Alberto Zedda; Maximiano Valdés; Gustavo Dudamel; 1981 Prince of Asturias Laureate for the Arts José Luis López Cobos; and 2011 Prince of Asturias Laureate for the Arts Riccardo Muti. Prestigious ensembles have also participated in this event, such as the Orfeón Donostiarra, bestowed with the 1984 Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts; the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra; the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, granted the 2008 Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts; the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra; and the Principality of Asturias Symphony Orchestra (OSPA).
The origins of this concert date back to 1992, when the institution instigated its “Music Week” with the aim of bringing the experience of concert music to different locations in the Principality as part of its efforts to disseminate culture. Concerts were held throughout the region over a period of seven days, culminating on the eve of the Awards Ceremony with the Finale Concert. This cycle concluded in 2011, although the institution continues to organize the Princess of Asturias Awards Concert each year.
In all, 405 concerts were programmed within the framework of this activity during its twenty editions (1992-2011) in 29 localities in the Principality. “Music Week” featured musicians of the calibre of Purita de la Riva, René Pape, the Moscow Virtuosi, the London Gabrieli Brass Ensemble, the Capilla Real de Madrid, the Rubin Quartet, the Capella Ministers, and the Clara Schumann Trio, among many others.