Orquestra Simfònica del Gran Teatre del Liceu

About

Based in Barcelona, the Orquestra Simfònica del Gran Teatre del Liceu was founded originally as a theater in 1847 and is Spain's oldest surviving orchestra. Prior to 1959, the Liceu's orchestra did not have a head conductor, but instead relied on such luminary guest conductors as Richard Strauss, Manuel De Falla, Igor Stravinsky, Arturo Toscanini and many more. Focusing primarily on the performance of opera and ballet, the Liceu's orchestra was, and still is generally considered to be Spain's supreme orchestra and has been the site for the premiers of some of Spain's most celebrated composers since the mid-19th Century.