In the classical music scene, there is an urgent need to think about innovative concert formats, but surprisingly, the heavy legacy of 19th-century concert structures continues to predominate. This paradox can be attributed, in part, to the lack of inspiring models for change.

At the invitation of the Tagus-Atlanticus Cultural Association, Spanish musicologist and programmer Miguel Angelo Marín will present a theoretical framework (under development) for concert curation based on four ideal types, which offer a flexible and innovative approach to programming. Drawing on his more than 15 years of experience as a concert programmer at the Fundación Juan March in Madrid, Marín will demonstrate how these conceptual models can be applied in real contexts to challenge the traditional concert format.

Through the analysis of fundamental curatorial principles and practical examples, this session aims to inspire concert organisers, curators and performers to rethink and revitalise the classical concert experience.

Objectives:

• To promote debate on the relevance and future of classical music concerts;
• To discuss the role of the “music curator” as an agent of innovation and a bridge between tradition and contemporary audiences;
• To identify and analyse innovative programming strategies that use data and creative approaches to expand audiences;
• Contribute to the sustainability of musical institutions, inspiring new ways of thinking about cultural offerings, with a special focus on classical music.

Miguel Ángel Marín is Professor of Music at the University of La Rioja and Director of the Music Programme at the Juan March Foundation in Madrid. He is a specialist in classical music programming and curatorial practice. As artistic director of the Juan March Foundation for over 15 years, he has designed an ambitious concert season with over 150 performances per year, many of them structured with a distinctive curatorial approach that challenges traditional formats and attracts diverse audiences.

He also lectures at the University of La Rioja, where his research focuses on: Concert studies; Music programming; History of music in Spain in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Marín has published extensively on these topics, notably in the works “Challenging the listener: how to change trends in classical music programming” (2018) and “What are concert studies? The current classical concert as an object of study” (2024). He is also the artistic director of MarchVivo, the Foundation’s record label, recognised for the high quality and diversity of its classical music productions.

Production: Tagus-Atlanticus Cultural Association

Support: Spanish Embassy; Fundación Juan March; Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation; CESEM/IN2PAST, NOVA FCSH, FCT

Registration: https://forms.gle/JDrtoWeiB6EzYCaF8