Founded in 2004, Corcudec is a non-profit institution linked to the University of Concepción (Chile) that offers a varied program of concerts, Theatre, cinema and pedagogical activities through stable casts such as the Symphony Orchestra and the University of Concepción Choir and its main space, the University of Concepción Theatre. Among its pillars is artistic training through projects such as The Art of Interpretation and the Young Talents Contest. “The inclusion of Corcudec in the OLA network reinforces its commitment to the dissemination of opera, an art that not only has a profound cultural impact, but also generates employment, economic dynamism and social cohesion,” says Eduardo Díaz, executive director (i) of Corcudec, in this interview.

 

Created in 2004 under the auspices of the University of Concepción, the University of Concepción Cultural Corporation (Corcudec) is an institution dedicated to the programming of concerts, the training of audiences and new musical talents, and the circulation of experiences around music and other artistic expressions.

 

“Corcudec’s mission is to contribute to the cultural life of the Biobío Region and Chile, promoting inclusive access to arts and culture, and encouraging the active participation of communities,” says Eduardo Díaz, executive director (i) of the corporation.

 

The main space of Corcudec is the University of Concepción Theatre, a place of “theatrical dissemination and creation” inaugurated on January 7, 1963 after the University of Concepción (UdeC) acquired the old Central Theatre, located in the Olivieri Building, in front of the city’s Plaza Independencia. It is in this place where most of the presentations, shows, concerts and artistic programs promoted by the cultural corporation take place.

 

“Being part of Ópera Latinoamérica (OLA) has been a significant step for Corcudec in its commitment to strengthening the lyrical genre,” says Díaz. In recent years, the corporation has already enriched its link with the operatic repertoire, with productions such as Madama Butterfly, La Traviata, Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute, Rigoletto, Lucia di Lammermoor and The Barber of Seville, among others. More recently, the UdeC Symphony Orchestra —one of the stable bodies of the corporation along with the UdeC Choir— performed in 2023 in the Golden Hall of the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, along with the cast of the opera Patagonia, by Chilean composer Sebastián Errázuriz.

 

For this year, the Corcudec season includes the production of the opera Llacolén, with music by Víctor Hugo Toro and libretto by Gonzalo Cuadra. The play addresses elements of the Mapuche worldview and will have its world premiere in June 2025 at the Teatro Universidad de Concepción, with musical direction by Víctor Hugo Toro, stage direction by Argentine Pablo Maritano and set design by Marianela Camaño.

 

 

Artistic training and a local ecosystem

 

In addition to its programming, one of the pillars of Corcudec is artistic training. The Art of Performance program invites young instrumentalists to participate in master classes and talks together with outstanding national and international conductors and musicians. On the other hand, the Young Talents Contest – with 15 years of experience – is “a platform to promote the careers of young singers and musicians,” says Eduardo Díaz.

 

In the same way, the UdeC Symphony Orchestra also maintains a line of work in which it invites young instrumentalists to join as guests in its symphonic season. “This provides professional experience in the orchestral field and promotes artistic excellence while strengthening future generations of Chilean musicians,” adds Díaz.

 

 

For 2025, the UdeC Orchestra and  Choir  – which since this year has Chilean Luis Toro Araya as its new principal conductor – have prepared a Symphonic Season that will feature ten symphonic programs, chamber concerts, lyrical concerts, master classes, among other shows that will feature the participation of conductors such as Paolo Bortolameolli (Chile), Rodolfo Saglimbeni (Venzuela) and Glass Marcano (Venezuela).

 

“The inclusion of Corcudec in the Ópera Latinoamérica network reinforces its commitment to the dissemination of opera, an art that not only has a profound cultural impact, but also generates employment, economic dynamism and social cohesion. In addition, the opera offers a training space for young talents in singing, design and essential trades of artistic production, strengthening the local ecosystem,” says Díaz.

 

Eduardo Díaz talks to us about the history of the corporation, the main challenges it faces and some previews of the next artistic season in the following interview.

 

 

For those who are not familiar with your institution, could you share with us a brief overview of Corcudec’s history and mission in promoting arts and culture in the Biobío Region and in Chile?

 

The University of Concepción Cultural Corporation (Corcudec) is a non-profit institution founded in 2004, linked to the University of Concepción. Its mission is to contribute to the cultural life of the Biobío Region and Chile, promoting inclusive access to arts and culture, and encouraging the active participation of communities. Corcudec is distinguished by its comprehensive focus on the arts, with a particular emphasis on its casts, such as the Symphony Orchestra and the University of Concepción Choir, and the University of Concepción Theatre as a cultural space, which are fundamental pillars of its programming. Through a wide range of concerts, theatre, cinema and educational activities, the institution has established itself as a benchmark for artistic and cultural excellence.

 

With a vision of cultural leadership, Corcudec aspires to project itself both nationally and internationally. Among his most recent achievements are the historic European tour of the UdeC Symphony Orchestra in 2022, with presentations in Italy and Austria, and his participation in 2023 in the Golden Hall of the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, with the cast of the Chilean opera Patagonia by Sebastián Errázuriz. The Corporation also prioritizes the creation of strategic alliances and the diversification of its cultural offer, reaffirming its vocation for innovation, excellence and the democratization of the arts.

 

 

One of Corcudec’s lines of work is training. How do these projects work? What activities do you contemplate and what results have you obtained in recent years?

 

Artistic training is one of the fundamental pillars of Corcudec. Through its program The Art of Interpretation, outstanding national and international teachers offer master classes and talks to young instrumentalists, promoting interpretive skills and a deeper understanding of musical language.

 

One of the most relevant projects is the Young Talents Contest, which has been providing a platform to promote the careers of young singers and instrumentalists for more than 15 years. Many of the winners of this contest have continued their studies at universities of international prestige and today have consolidated artistic careers.

 

Likewise, the University of Concepción Symphony Orchestra offers young musicians the opportunity to join as guests in its symphony season, providing them with professional experience in the orchestral field. This approach promotes artistic excellence while strengthening future generations of Chilean musicians.

 

 

What are the main challenges facing Corcudec in the current cultural context and how do you plan to address them?

 

One of Corcudec’s main challenges is to ensure its long-term sustainability, especially for its stable casts, such as the University of Concepción Symphony Orchestra (which has 72 years of history) and the University of Concepción Choir (which is celebrating its 70th anniversary). Although the University of Concepción provides support to the Corporation, it is essential to diversify the sources of financing through strategic alliances with public and private organizations.

 

In addition, the nature of the arts, with high production costs and an impact that extends over the long term, demands continued commitment. To ensure access to the arts of excellence, Corcudec is working on new educational programs aimed at attracting new audiences. It also seeks to expand its presence beyond the limits of the University of Concepción Theatre, reaching new communities and expanding its international projection.

 

One of the focuses of Ópera Latinoamérica is to support the development and dissemination of lyrical networking work by Ibero-American Theatres, companies and festivals. In this sense, how do you plan networking – both nationally and internationally – with other OLA members?

 

Being part of Ópera Latinoamérica (OLA) has been a significant step for Corcudec in its commitment to strengthening the lyrical genre. The Corporation has a rich operatic tradition in the Biobío Region, with emblematic productions such as Madama Butterfly, La Traviata, Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute, Rigoletto, Lucia di Lammermoor and The Barber of Seville, among others. These productions have not only had the participation of prominent international and national artists, but have also provided a platform for young talents from the region and from all over Chile.

 

In addition to operatic productions, Corcudec organizes lyrical singing competitions that make young singers visible and promote. Many of the participants and winners have managed to stand out nationally and internationally, taking the name of the region and the country to prestigious stages.

 

Corcudec’s participation in OLA strengthens these initiatives through artistic exchange and collaboration with other member institutions. This allows productions to be projected to a wider audience, exploring new forms of management, circulation of artists and joint learning, enriching the lyrical panorama of the region and the country.

 

 

Could you give us details about the next artistic, musical and lyrical programme?

 

Corcudec’s 2025 Symphonic Season marks a significant milestone, as it will be the first under the principal conductor of maestro Luis Toro Araya. This season will include 10 symphonic concerts, 3 special programs, chamber concerts, master classes, world premieres and a Theatre season, with a renewed focus on artistic excellence, innovation and audience training.

 

One of the most outstanding elements will be the figure of the resident composer, Tomás Brantmayer. His work will be integrated into the Symphonic Crusades cycle, which will combine Brahms’ four symphonies with Brantmayer’s own compositions, reflecting the institution’s commitment to contemporary Chilean creation.

 

The season will also include unpublished works, such as the 12 variations on El Cant dels Ocells by Bernat Vivancos, the Harp Concerto by Joseph Jongen and the world premiere of the opera Llacolén by Víctor Hugo Toro and Gonzalo Cuadra. In addition, great classics such as Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and works by Chilean composers such as Valeria Valle will be presented.

 

We will have the participation of international artists who will debut in Chile, such as conductor Dayner Tafur Díaz, assistant of the Berlin Philharmonic, and renowned soloists such as Ana Romero (trumpet) and Margarita Balanas (cello and conductor). Prominent figures such as Glass Marcano and Paolo Bortolameolli will also return to the stage of the UdeC Symphony Orchestra.

 

 

In the lyrical field, the program will open a new space with recitals such as La Magia de la Ópera, with artists such as Camila Romero and Ismael Correa, and De la Ópera a la Zarzuela, with Pilar Garrido and Gonzalo Quinchahual. These concerts seek to attract and excite a diverse audience, consolidating the Theatre’s commitment to lyrical, symphonic and contemporary music, and strengthening its constant relationship with audiences.

 

The inclusion of Corcudec in the Latin American Opera network reinforces its commitment to the dissemination of opera, an art that not only has a profound cultural impact, but also generates employment, economic dynamism and social cohesion. In addition, the opera offers a training space for young talents in singing, design and essential crafts of artistic production, strengthening the local ecosystem.

 

Membership of OLA opens up new opportunities for international collaboration and exploration of innovative production models, ensuring the economic sustainability and cultural impact of opera in the region. Corcudec continues to reaffirm its commitment to the cultural and social development of the Biobío region and Chile.