Josep Pons

Regarded as the leading Spanish conductor of his generation, Josep Pons has built strong relationships with Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Orchestre de Paris, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and BBC Symphony Orchestra — the latter including several appearances at the BBC Proms. The 2024/25 season sees Pons return to Orquesta Nacional de España, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse with pianist Javier Perianes, Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, and debut with China National Symphony Orchestra and Hong Kong Philharmonic.

At the end of the 2020/21 season, Pons renewed his contract as Music Director of Gran Teatre del Liceu until 2025/26. His tenure began in 2012, and he conducts a number of productions in Barcelona each season, most recently Eugene Onegin, Carmen, Bluebeard’s Castle and the Sacre with Ballet Sasha Waltz & Guests. He also holds the position of Honorary Conductor of Orquesta Nacional de España, having previously served as their Artistic Director for nine years during which he substantially raised their international profile. He is also Honorary Conductor of Orquesta Ciudad de Granada. Recently, Pons has been appointed the new Chief Conductor of Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, assuming the position at the start of the 2025/26 season.

Josep Pons’ discography of over 50 CDs and DVDs has garnered numerous awards, including Latin Grammy and BBC Music Award. In 1999 he received the Spanish National Music Prize for his outstanding work on twentieth-century music. In 2019, Pons was awarded Honorary Doctorate from Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, he also received the gold medal for merit in Fine Arts, awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Culture.