The historicist group El Afecto Ilustrado presents two concerts, Tuesday and Thursday, with pieces by this 'forgotten' Spanish Enlightenment composer.
As part of its Chamber-Music Cycle, the Auditorio de Tenerife has scheduled two concerts of El Afecto Ilustrado performing the complete string quintets with two violas of José Palomino de la Quintana (1753-1810). These two concert programmes, titled Quintetos para el Conde I and Quintetos para el Conde II, will be held on Tuesday 16 and Thursday 18 December, respectively, both in the Chamber Hall at 7.30 p.m. In addition to individual tickets, a subscription for both concerts are available to experience the full integral at a 25% discount.
For this occasion, the historicist ensemble will feature Adrián Linares and Vadym Makarenko on violins, Ricardo Gil and Víctor Gil on violas, and Diego Pérez on cello. El Afecto Ilustrado recovers these quintets to highlight Palomino’s exceptional compositional talent. According to Linares, Palomino merits special recognition among the music of the Iberian Enlightenment for his lyricism, effective harmony, and a style that often anticipated emerging trends.
Composed in 1780, this collection of string quintets with two violas is dedicated to the 6th Count of Fernán Núñez, Spain’s ambassador to Portugal until 1788. While Palomino builds on Boccherini’s style, his work remains highly personal.
José Palomino de la Quintana was born in Madrid in 1753 to a family closely connected to music and theatre. He first studied with his father, then with Antonio Rodríguez de Hita, chapel master of the Royal Monastery of La Encarnación. In 1770, he became an acclaimed violinist after passing an examination at the Royal Chapel of Madrid.
In 1773, he requested permission to leave his post and move to Lisbon. In 1774, he was appointed violinist of the Royal Chapel in Lisbon, a role he held until 1807. This ensemble became renowned for bringing together some of Europe’s finest musicians.
Palomino was a leading composer in Lisbon during the late 18th century, recognised as a violin virtuoso, occasional violist, conductor, and an early example of a musician serving both royal and private commissions from the aristocracy, the Church, and the theatre. Like many Iberian composers and players during the second half of the 18th century, today Palomino remains relatively unknown outside scholarly circles.
In 2020, the Real Academia Canaria de las Bellas Artes San Miguel Arcángel (RACBA) and the Canarian Museum of Las Palmas published a complete collection of José Palomino’s string quintets with two violas. After premiering the final three quintets in July 2021, El Afecto Ilustrado recorded all six works for the Lindoro label at the El Sauzal theatre in Tenerife. This recording serves as a reference for performers, musicologists, and other professionals interested in late 18th-century Spanish music.
Founded in 2012, El Afecto Ilustrado is a Spanish chamber ensemble specialising in historically informed performances from the early Baroque to the Romantic periods. The group explores innovative concert formats and includes distinguished musicians from Spain and abroad. Its members, active in leading ensembles in the country, teaching, and solo careers, bring diverse perspectives that make each project unique and inspiring for audiences.
The tickets can be purchased at a single price of €15 and €5 for audiences under 30 on the website www.auditoriodetenerife.com, at the auditorium’s box office, or by dialling the phone number 902 317 327 from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check the special discounts for students, unemployed people and large families, among others.