San Sebastián revives the glory of "Amaya" at the 86th Quincena Musical
On August 9, 2025, the Kursaal Auditorium in San Sebastián hosted a historic event: the first performance of Jesús Guridi’s opera Amaya at the Quincena Musical Donostiarra. Originally planned to commemorate the centenary of its premiere in 2020, the event was postponed due to the pandemic and has now arrived “with an added emotional charge,” according to Beckmesser.
The “precise and expressive” conducting of Diego Martin-Etxebarria maintained a constant dramatic pulse, skillfully balancing the grandeur of the chorus with the intimacy of the arias—a task unanimously praised by critics.
The soloists stood out with truly brilliant performances. Soprano Arantza Ezenarro (Amaya), tenor Gillen Munguía (Sancho Garcés), and mezzo-soprano Marifé Nogales (Amagoya) captivated the audience with emotive and technically solid interpretations.
The Easo Abesbatza choir received praise for its power, cohesion, and clarity of diction, providing decisive dramatic strength to the choral scenes, enhancing the opera’s emotional impact.
Critics highlighted the excellent performance of the Euskadiko Orkestra, capable of delivering a rich and nuanced sonic palette. According to Diario Vasco, the entire musical ensemble “did justice to Guridi” with a reading full of vigor and sensitivity.
The audience, which filled the hall, rewarded the evening with a prolonged standing ovation.
Beyond its artistic value, this Amaya represented, according to Scherzo, “an act of justice for Guridi,” bringing back to the stage a fundamental work of the Basque repertoire with a team that truly reflects its essence.
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