Song of Light
ADDA Alicante Symphony Orchestra
Benedict Klöckner, cello
Margarita Balanas, guest conductor
Mozart — Symphony No. 35 “Haffner”
Haydn — Cello Concerto in C major
Mendelssohn — Symphony No. 2 “Lobgesang” (“Hymn of Praise”)
INDIVIDUAL TICKET SALES: From 30 July 2026.
BENEDICT KLÖCKNER. Cello
Benedict Klöckner is today among the most distinguished cellists of his generation. A prizewinner of numerous international competitions, he maintains an intense solo career with leading orchestras worldwide—including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London, Deutsche Radiophilharmonie, NDR Radiophilharmonie, Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, Kremerata Baltica, MDR Symphony Orchestra, and Munich Chamber Orchestra.
Throughout his career, he has collaborated with conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Christoph Eschenbach, Michael Sanderling, Ingo Metzmacher, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Oana Mallwitz, Cristian Măcelaru, and Sir Simon Rattle.
His artistic presence has taken him to internationally renowned venues including Berliner Philharmonie, Carnegie Hall (New York), Kennedy Center (Washington), Suntory Hall (Tokyo), Musikverein (Vienna), Tonhalle (Zurich), and Concertgebouw (Amsterdam).
A regular guest at international festivals, he has shared the stage with artists including Emanuel Ax, Lisa Batiashvili, Gidon Kremer, and Anne-Sophie Mutter—solidifying a multifaceted trajectory that bridges solo performance, chamber music, and close ties with major global music centers.
For over ten years, he has been founder and artistic director of the International Music Festival Koblenz (IMUKO).
The 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 seasons feature an especially prominent international schedule: performances at Elbphilharmonie (Hamburg), Berliner Philharmonie, Cologne Philharmonie, Tonhalle Zurich, Suntory Hall Tokyo, and Amsterdam Concertgebouw—as well as a return to New York’s Lincoln Center and debut with the NCPA Orchestra in Beijing.
His recent discography includes the album *Dvořák*, released by Berlin Classics in 2024 with Cristian Măcelaru, the Romanian Chamber Orchestra, and Danae Dörken; and the Brahms sonatas recorded with Yu Kosuge, issued by Sony in 2023.
He has also recorded the complete Bach Cello Suites. His recordings have received prestigious accolades including the OPUS Klassik Award and the Supersonic Award.
Education: Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe (with Martin Ostertag); Kronberg Academy (with Frans Helmerson and Gary Hoffman). He currently serves as professor at École Normale de Musique de Paris.
He performs on the “Ex Maurice Gendron” cello, built by Francesco Ruggeri in 1680.
Committed to contemporary creation, he has premiered works by Wolfgang Rihm, Eun Hwa Cho, Eric Tanguy, and Dai Fujikura in major international concert contexts.
MARGARITA BALANAS. Guest Conductor
Latvian cellist and conductor Margarita Balanas has established herself as one of the most distinctive musicians of her generation, appearing at Carnegie Hall, Berliner Philharmonie, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Wigmore Hall, Sydney Opera House, Fondation Louis Vuitton, and L’Auditori (Barcelona).
She is a recipient of Latvia’s Grand Music Prize and has performed as soloist with the Munich Philharmonic, Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra—and participated in festivals including the Dresden Music Festival, International Cello Festival Shanghai, Moritzburg Festival, and Radio France Occitanie Montpellier Festival.
She is an artist of Decca Classics. Together with her sister, violinist Kristine Balanas, she recorded *Castle of the Soul* by Pēteris Vasks. She has also collaborated closely with Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Mutter Virtuosi.
Balanas is a pioneering figure in orchestral conducting: the first woman symphonic conductor of Latvia, founder and artistic director of ANONIMI Orchestra and Charity, and former assistant conductor to Paavo Järvi with the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich (2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons).
She performs on the 1849 Charles-Adolphe Gand “Auguste Tolbecque” cello, loaned by The Little Butterfly Foundation—the same instrument used for the world premiere of Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1 in 1873.
Born in Dobele, Latvia, into a family with no classical music background, she began singing rock ‘n’ roll with her family and busking on the streets with her brothers to help fund instruments and travel.
At age 15, she received a full scholarship to the Purcell School, then studied cello and conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she was awarded the Bicentenary Scholarship.
Artistically guided by Lynn Harrell and selected for Gautier Capuçon’s Cello Masterclass d’Excellence, she has traced an extraordinary journey—from the streets of Latvia to the world’s greatest concert halls.