LUIS COBOS GIVES THE “AMIGOS DE HONOR” AWARD TO THE RTVE ORCHESTRA AND CHOIR
“Amigos de Honor” is the Musical Excellence Award granted by the AIE Society of Artists to performers, musicians, organizers, and managers of musical activities, as well as to groups, entities, and organizations with a long-standing trajectory in the music industry.
In 2025, the RTVE Choir celebrates its 75th anniversary, while the RTVE Orchestra marks 60 years of rehearsals, concerts, and musical activities that have delighted audiences across all musical genres.
In the words of Luis Cobos:
“It is an honor to give the ‘AMIGOS DE HONOR’ award to the RTVE Orchestra and Choir, a recognition from the AIE Society of Artists, an entity that represents all musical artists from Spain and over one hundred thousand artists from many other countries and regions worldwide. It is also symbolic to do so at the Teatro Monumental, a venue where I have performed several times and where much of the work of this magnificent orchestra and distinguished choir has taken place—an ensemble I have had the honor of supporting and conducting.
At AIE, we have decided to grant this award to the RTVE Symphony Orchestra and Choir for their outstanding career, the artistic legacy they have already established, their undeniable brilliance, and the prestige they hold in the international orchestral and choral scene.
This remarkable orchestra and choir demonstrate their significance not only through their performances of great works and concerts but also through the extraordinary conductors and composers who have created music for them and led them over the years.
Among them are Igor Markevitch, their first principal conductor, Lorin Maazel, Celibidache, Penderecki, Aaron Copland, the great American composer, Enrique García Asensio, Miguel Ángel Gómez, Odón Alonso, and many other acclaimed composers and artists who have had the opportunity to share rehearsals and concerts with this outstanding orchestra and choir.”
The RTVE Orchestra and Choir have showcased their quality and excellence in cities such as New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Prague, Strasbourg, and many others, leaving a lasting impression everywhere they perform.
Luis Cobos praised the quality and dedication of the orchestra and also stated: “In Spain, we tend to overlook or undervalue what we have and what we contribute to the world of art, music, and culture. That is why I also congratulate Radio Televisión Española for maintaining this extraordinary ensemble throughout the years, and I encourage them to continue their commitment to music and to the performers who bring it to life. Building a great orchestra like the ORVE requires years of effort and dedication to reach the level of excellence it enjoys today. However, it could be dismantled in a moment by a simple bureaucratic decision if those responsible for preserving this historical musical legacy fail to recognize its importance. The same applies to the choir. That is why I urge RTVE to continue supporting, nurturing, and developing this magnificent orchestra and choir, composed of women and men who bring exceptional talent, quality, professionalism, and passion—as they have demonstrated tonight in the extraordinary concert we have had the privilege of witnessing. They are a treasure, a marvel, a flagship of Spanish music, and a true cultural emblem of Radio Televisión Española.”
From the AIE Society of Artists, we congratulate the RTVE Orchestra and Choir and wish them a future filled with music, passion, excellence, and emotion.
Madrid, January 20, 2025