Josep Pons © Igor Cortadellas
Josep Pons
Josep Pons has been the Musical Director of the Gran Teatre del Liceu since 2012 and his latest renewal is until 2026.
Over these years he has directed around forty pieces, with particular attention to the great works of the 19th and 20th-century repertoire, such as The Ring of the Nibelung cycle, Tristan and Isolde, Parsifal, or Wagner’s Lohengrin, Richard Strauss’ Elektra, Wozzeck by Alban Berg or Debussy’s Pelléas and Mélisande, as well as other styles such as Mozart’s Da Ponte trilogy and Handel’s Rodelinda, and several premieres.
He is Honorary Director of the “Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España”, where he was the principal and artistic director from 2003 to 2012, and also of the Orquesta Ciudad de Granada (1993-2003). He was the founder of the Orquestra de Cambra Teatre Lliure, where he was the principal director from 1985 to 1997, and of the JONC (Jove Orquestra Nacional de Catalunya), of which he is the “Founding Director”.
In 1992, he was the Executive Musical Director of the “Barcelona-92” Olympic Games ceremonies
He has recently been elected as the Principal and Artistic Director of the “Deutsche Radio Philharmonie” starting from the 2025-26 season.
Josep Pons’ discography, with more than 50 CDs and DVDs, most of which published by Harmonia Mundi France and Deutsche Grammophon, include recordings of de Falla and French repertoire considered exemplary performances and which have received numerous awards, such as the Académie Charles Cros Award, the Cannes Classical Awards and a Grammy.
His recording of Noches en los jardines de España with Javier Perianes won a Choc de la Musique, Melancolía with Patricia Petibon received a Gramophone Editor’s Choice award, and his collaboration with Tomatito earned him a Latin Grammy. His recording of Berio’s Sinfonia and 10 Frühe Lieder by Mahler/Berio with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Matthias Goerne won the BBC Music Award, Choc de la musique, ECHO Klassik Awards and the Télérama ffff award.
His latest releases with Harmonia Mundi have been the recordings of the Goyescas opera by Granados with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and Le Tombeau de Couperin – Alborada del gracioso by Ravel with the Orchestre de París and Javier Perianes.
Among other awards, he has been honoured with the “National Music Award” granted by the Spanish Ministry of Culture for his outstanding work in 20th century music.
In 2019 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and also received the Gold Medal for Merit in the Fine Arts.
He is a Supernumerary Academic of the Royal Catalan Academy of Fine Arts of Saint George.
Throughout his career, Josep Pons has forged strong relationships with most of the great European orchestras, having recorded with the Orchestre de Paris and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, with which he has appeared several times at the BBC Proms.
Josep Pons began his musical education at the prestigious Escolania de Montserrat. The secular tradition and intense study of polyphony as well as contemporary music at this centre marked his subsequent musical and intellectual development.