Journey through the Mediterranean – Olympic Park’s Esplanade ^{Summer 2024}

Rafael Payare’s prodigious musicianship, technical brilliance and charismatic presence on the podium have made him one of the world’s most sought-after conductors. A graduate of the celebrated El Sistema music education program in Venezuela, Mr. Payare began his formal conducting studies in 2004 with José Antonio Abreu. Since winning the prestigious Malko International Competition for Young Conductors in Denmark in 2012, Maestro Payare’s career has advanced rapidly. Since 2015, he has served as Principal Conductor of the Castleton Festival, founded by his mentor the late Lorin Maazel. He was Chief Conductor and Music Director of the Ulster Orchestra from 2014 to 2019 and in 2019, took up the position of Music Director of the San Diego Symphony. In recent years, Rafael Payare has conducted many of the world’s most prestigious orchestras, including those of New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Zurich, Berlin, Vienna, London, Munich, Chicago and Paris. He has also made important opera debuts at the Glyndebourne Festival, Stockholm’s Royal Swedish Opera, the Royal Danish Opera, and most recently at London’s Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. In the 2022-2023 season, Payare became the ninth Music Director in the history of the OSM.

To consult:
rafaelpayare.com
Long biography

Joseph Tawadros is one of the world’s leading oud performers and composers, his style of playing fuses the Arabic Maqam system with western jazz and improvisation. His drive to push musical boundaries has led to collaborations with renowned performers including Kate Miller-Heidke, Katie Noonan, Zakir Hussain, Sultan Khan, John Patitucci, Jack DeJohnette and Richard Bona. He has recorded 14 albums and is known for his brilliant technique, deep musicianship and joyous style of performance as well as his solid repertoire of innovative, original music. Joseph tours extensively regularly headlining across Europe, America, Asia and the Middle East.

Joseph Tawadros is acknowledged for expanding the oud’s notoriety in mainstream western culture and he’s also received recognition in the Arab world, appearing on the judging panel of the Damascus International Oud competition in 2009, and taking part in Istanbul’s first Oud festival in 2010.

In June 2023, Joseph released his 20th studio recording, ä solo album “To Those Who Came Before Us”. Drawing upon the ancient music tradition of taqasim, Joseph attempts a soulful meditative hour long improvisation in this tradition. After 20 albums, this will be the greatest feat of solo creativity, a long extended solo work using the Arabic madam system and the other influences picked up in his 20 year recording career.