The Choir
The Zarautz Abesbatza Choir was created in 1983 at the request of the City Council under the direction of Joakin Iruretagoiena. In 1996, Jaione Eskudero was appointed
director.
He has given numerous concerts in the Basque Country and abroad, in Galicia, Extremadura, Madrid, Seville, Huelva, Catalonia, Germany, Israel, Italy, Switzerland,
Argentina, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Belgium and France.
In the early years he participated in choral competitions and won first prize on two occasions: in the Avilés choral competition (1989) and in the choral competition
organized by EITB (1988).
The choir has premiered, interpreted and publicized the work of illustrious people and composers from Zarautz in special tribute concerts, as well as biographies;
Francisco Escudero, Angel Illarramendi, Imanol Urbieta, Antxon Sarasua, Mertxe Isasti, Angel Urcelay, J.J.N. Garmendia, the bertsolari Iñaki Eizmendi “Basarri”,
Salbatore Mitxelena and Xabier Lizardi.
The Choir promotes, organizes and carries out joint activities with various local groups, such as the Zarautz Music Band, the Gabota dance school, the Jalgi dance
group, Txistularis from the town, choirs, musicians, theater actors, storytellers… With external formations he has collaborated with the Euskadi Orchestra, the
orchestra of the Francisco Escudero Superior Conservatory of Music of Donostia, the Et Incarnatus string orchestra, Oreka TX, the Txistularis de Legutio group, the
Contratemps vocal group of Brussels, the Bordeaux Bestalariak choir and many other choirs.
In 1988, on the occasion of the celebration of the 750th anniversary of the Zarautz Foundation, together with the Euskadi Symphony Orchestra, the choir premiered the
San Juan Bautista Oratory of Francisco Escudero, the famous composer Zarauztarra, and in July 1999 he presented the work Misa in re in honore di Sancti Mamesi of the
same author, when the Escudero himself returned to live his last years in Zarautz.
At the 2001 Summer Concert in July, he presented Fauré’s Requiem in various locations.
In 2003, the composer Ángel Illarramendi premiered the Mass composed at the age of 19.
In 2004 he premiered the Legend of the Dragon of Aralar, compiled by Mr. Miguel Barandiaran, the music from Las Diez Melodías Vascas by Jesús Guridi, the lyrics
created by Imanol Urbieta and all of it adapted by himself, together with the Zarauzko Music Band and the Iratzarri dance group.
In 2005, Ángel de Urcelay, the Zarauztarra musician, offered a concert for the first time as a special mention of some of his unknown works. In 2006 they offered a
concert in his honor at the Seville Cathedral.
In 2008, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Choir, numerous special events were organized. Antxon Sarasua, Mertxe Isasti and Angel Illarramendi stand
out as the premiere of the works of 3 musicians from Zarautz in a special concertoffered with the Et Incarnatus orchestra in the Sports Center. The 4 concerts offered
during the trip to Argentina.
In 2010, the 400th anniversary of the Zarautz Franciscans, the choir participated in several special events. In the Summer Concert that they do every year, the Franciscans were honored and especially Father Juan José, Natividad Garmendia (1883-1954), organist and music teacher, singing and
premiering some of his works.
In 2012, on the centenary of Francisco Escudero, together with the Et Incarnatus orchestra, he offered a monograph on Escudero himself, a specially made concert.
In 2013, on the occasion of the centenary of the bersolari Iñaki Eizmendi “Basarri”, the Zarautz Abesbatza Choir offered a special Summer Concert in his honor. Jose Luis Gorrotxategi and Jon Azpillaga participated as guests at said event and in their small but beautiful session, Jon Azpillaga announced his last performance in public. This same year, in November, together with the Zarautz Abesbatza Choir, the Oñati Choir, the dancers from the Gabota Dance School and the Zarautz Music Band, they
presented one of the most important works by Salbatore Mitxelena at the Zarautz sports center and the Arantzazu Sanctuary, the Arantzazu Poem, composed by Father
Patxi Madina de Oñate for choir and orchestra, whose score was transcribed for band by Alain Sancho.
In 2014, the Choir organized and performed a concert in honor of Imanol Urbieta’s 80th birthday with many participants: some members of the Oleskariak group, Oreka
TX, 5 members of the Zarautz Music Band, a group of renowned musicians from Zarautz and of course, the singer Pako Olazabal (Paxo).
In 2016, together with the Ángel de Urcelay choir from Seville, they held an act in honor of this Zarautz musician, both in Zarautz and in Seville.
On September 15, 2017 , the Zarautz Abesbatza Choir, the Orfeón Donostiarra and the Euskadi Orchestra, premiered the 7th Symphony by Ángel Illarramendi, among
other songs. In December 2018, the Karonte publishing house, published the album recorded live, in honor of Illarramendi “Zuzenean”.
In 2019, in Brussels, the Zarautz Choir gave concerts in the Royal Galleries and together with the local chamber choir Contretemp, in the parish of Notre Dame de
Sablon. He gave a concert with a group from Wisconsin at the Donostia Capuchins, among many other events.
In 2021 he organized the monographic concert for the 125th anniversary of Xabier Lizardi in the new Lizardi hall in Zarautz, together with Antton Valverde and his band,
among others.
In 2022, on the 20th anniversary of the death of Francisco Escudero, the choir held a special act in the Church of San Ignacio in Donostia, the Church of La Milagrosa in
Pamplona and the Church of the Franciscans in Zarautz.
In 2023, on the 40th anniversary, a trip to Bordeaux and 3 performances there. A special summer concert in the parish of Zarautz and a special concert on Xexili day at
the Aritzbatalde sports center in Zarautz.