The Odyssey — Symphonic Works by Pedro Vilarroig, Now on Spotify

I am pleased to share the release of The Odyssey, a symphonic album by Spanish composer Pedro Vilarroig, performed by the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra under my direction.

Released by Cezanne, the album brings together two large-scale symphonic works inspired by epic storytelling and the timeless themes of heroism, conflict and the struggle between good and evil.

The music was originally recorded with the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra between 2016 and 2018 and is now presented in a new 2026 remaster by Javier Monteverde.

Two Symphonic Journeys

The Odyssey (La Odisea) follows the legendary voyage of Ulysses from the fall of Troy to his long-awaited return to Ithaca. Vilarroig's score evokes some of the most iconic episodes of Homer's epic, including the encounter with Polyphemus, the Sirens and the protection of the goddess Athena.

Heroes and Villains (Héroes y Villanos) explores the eternal confrontation between good and evil through a broad symphonic canvas, evolving from darker orchestral landscapes towards an expansive finale in which the choir takes a central role.

Symphonic Music with a Cinematic Spirit

Pedro Vilarroig's musical language combines a contemporary neotonal approach with the expressive breadth of the Romantic symphonic tradition and the dramatic immediacy of film music.

For me, conducting these works was an opportunity to explore that connection between symphonic storytelling and cinematic expression — music conceived not simply as a sequence of orchestral movements, but as a narrative journey in which orchestral colour, dramatic tension and musical architecture continuously serve the story.

I am delighted to see these recordings given a new life through their 2026 remastering and digital release, making this ambitious symphonic project available to a new international audience.

David Hernando RicoOrchestra Conductor & Symphonic Recording Producer