Albert Gumí Bids Farewell in ONCA's Final New Year's Concert

Albert Gumí conducted his final concert as artistic director of the Orquestra Nacional Clàssica d'Andorra (ONCA) on Thursday at the Centre de Congressos in Andorra la Vella, marking the end of nearly five years in the role.

The traditional New Year's concert, themed "París-Viena," drew a near-capacity crowd eager to usher in 2026 with familiar classics. The programme contrasted French composers such as Bizet, Saint-Saëns, and Delibes with Viennese waltzes and polkas by the Strauss family and Franz von Suppé. Gumí described it as an event unsuited to bold experiments, given audience expectations, but included a small surprise: the world premiere of his Vals del Valira.

Appointed at the start of 2020 amid the pandemic, Gumí said the crisis forced the orchestra to reinvent itself by focusing inward on Andorran talent and heritage. He expressed pride in "Andorranising" the ONCA, creating what he called the "Andorran National Team of Musicians" as tasked by the board. This involved promoting local performers, developing a repertoire of Andorran classical music, and expanding educational outreach to children and youth.

Gumí will hand over artistic direction to Andorran Joan Anton Rechi, a decision they agreed upon to ensure local leadership. He praised Rechi as an excellent manager capable of implementing ideas like a stable concert cycle that eluded him. Though stepping back from management to focus on his own compositions—including a recent opera premiere at Barcelona's Liceu and another commission for Germany—Gumí plans to stay involved with the ONCA, working closely with Rechi on key projects.

The outgoing director believes his tenure brought the orchestra closer to Andorran citizens and institutions, while laying groundwork to promote it abroad. Regular attendees noted the event's polished execution, leaving Gumí, by all accounts, with a strong sense of accomplishment.