Euskadiko Orkestra includes Aita Donostia\'s \"La vie profonde de Saint François d\'Assise\" in its season
02 september 2026
Euskadiko Orkestra has programmed Aita Donostia's monumental work, Illustrations musicales pour La vie profonde de Saint François d’Assise, as part of its Symphony Season.
This represents a premier musical heritage revival. In terms of scale, scoring, and duration, it is the most ambitious work ever conceived by the San Sebastián composer and Capuchin friar. Originally composed as incidental music for Henri Ghéon's theatrical play and premiered in Paris in 1926, the score brings together Franciscan spirituality, choral brilliance, Basque folk roots, and the compositional innovations of the Parisian interwar avant-garde.
The production will be conducted by maestro Ernest Martínez Izquierdo, featuring actress and narrator Annie Dutoit-Argerich, tenor Luken Munguira, and the Easo Abesbatza and Easo Gazte choirs, with stage direction by Fernando Bernués and dramaturgy by David Ferré.
Concert tour (November 2026):
- November 6: Kursaal (Donostia-San Sebastián)
- November 7: Euskalduna Conference Centre (Bilbao)
- November 9: Kursaal (Donostia-San Sebastián)
- November 10: Jesús Guridi Conservatory (Vitoria-Gasteiz)
- November 11: Baluarte (Pamplona-Iruña)
More information about the programme and ticket sales on the official Euskadiko Orkestra website.
Score and performance materials available for orchestras and programmers
The complete edition of Aita Donostia's Illustrations musicales pour La vie profonde de Saint François d'Assise is available for purchase and hire in our online catalogue: