The 16 October concert opened with the world premiere of Rémanence, selected from 78 submissions for the XLIII Premio Reina Sofía de Composición Musical. Doña Sofía presented composer Luis Tabuenca Fernández with the diploma.
At 7:30 p.m. on 16 October 2026, the Orquesta y Coro RTVE took the stage at Madrid’s Teatro Monumental under conductor Thomas Herzog. The concert’s first half featured the world premiere of Rémanence, winner of the XLIII edition of the Premio Reina Sofía de Composición Musical. Doña Sofía later presented its composer, Luis Tabuenca Fernández, with the diploma recognising the award. Organised by the Fundació Ferrer de Música, the prize is one of Spain’s leading distinctions for contemporary composition. Tabuenca’s work was chosen from 78 submissions, and the award carries a €100,000 prize, EFE reported.
Tabuenca, a composer and percussionist from Zaragoza born in 1979, has described Rémanence as an exploration of sonic traces and memory. It follows the sounds that linger after the music stops, in the listener’s memory and in the performer’s body. The composition moves through short fragments and shifts in density. Its musical layers overlap, interrupting and transforming one another. RTVE has highlighted the work’s focus on timbre and resonance, along with the acoustic demands it places on the orchestra.
A black satin suit with a diamond pattern caught the eye at the ceremony.
Doña Sofía was welcomed by Eva Ortega, secretary general of Research. Sergi Ferrer-Salat, president of the Fundación de Música Ferrer-Salat, was also present. Alfonso Morales attended as secretary general and board secretary of Radiotelevisión Española. After greeting the representatives, she posed with the authorities before taking her seat in the concert box.
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Thomas Herzog conducted the Orquesta Sinfónica de Radio Televisión Española. Baritone Damián del Castillo performed alongside mezzo-soprano Esmeralda Espinosa. Contralto Ekaterina Antipova also took part. The first half centred on the prize-winning composition. Its use of resonance and unusual timbral possibilities posed a notable acoustic challenge for the orchestra.
After presenting the diploma, Doña Sofía greeted Tabuena Fernández and his family. She also met the concert’s performers. The composer said the award would give him time to continue creating.
The programme then moved to two works by Edvard Grieg: Landkjenning, Op. 31, featuring baritone Damián del Castillo, and Olav Trygvason, Op. 50. Following its Madrid premiere, Rémanence is scheduled to join the Joven Orquesta Nacional de España’s touring programme for the 2026–2027 season, Europa Press reported.
