The Spanish Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra: Creation and Initial Steps

Abstract

The Spanish Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra, one of the most recent European orchestras of its kind, was created in 1964, during the campaign known as XXV Años de Paz commemorating the twenty-five anniversary of Franco’s victory in the Spanish Civil War. Taking on an attitude of “artistic patronage”, the Francoist regime exploited the idea that Spain was experiencing a period of unprecedented cultural and musical development, which was due, above all, to the implication of the State. Regardless of the underlying reasons of political legitimacy, the creation of the new symphonic ensemble, at the initiative of the Ministry of Information and Tourism, became a landmark in Spanish musical life. By analyzing previously unknown archival sources, this article examines the origins of the orchestra, paying particular attention to the factors that determined its structure and early concerts.