The Orquesta de Radiotelevisión Española during the spanish transition into democracy (1975-1982): lights and shadows of the official music policy

Abstract

This article studies the Orquesta de Radiotelevisión Española (ORTVE) in the Spanish transition to democracy as an approach to the 1970s and 1980s musical politics. The orchestra belonged to the Dirección General de Radiodifusión, excessively dependent on Adolfo Suárez’s political party in the government (Unión de Centro Democrático), which generated friction between political and musical interests. To analyze this situation, we focus on the programmed contemporary Spanish repertoire, one of the goals the ORTVE was created for. Promoting this music was understood as a modernization sign. Some orchestra’s delegates, such as Enrique de la Hoz and Miguel Ángel Coria, tried to fulfill this plan; however, the lack of communication between the Dirección General de Música, the Dirección General de Radiodifusión and the orchestra hindered their work. As a result, the ORTVE was in a subsidiary situation with respect to the Orquesta Nacional de España (ONE, its «older sister») and depended on it in many ways. The research also deals with women’s role in the orchestra, as female performers and composers. This article would not have been possible without several primary sources at the Archivo General de la Administración and Ángel Medina’s private archive concerning the General Delegation of the RTVE Orchestra and Choir.