NDF & KUARTETO PHILIPERENA: ABANDONATUAK

On 22 November 2015, Oskorri brought its long career to a close with two memorable concerts here, at Teatro Arriaga. The group founded by Natxo de Felipe (from now on NDF) had travelled the world a thousand times since that distant first gig on 25 March 1971. They were 45 years marked by an astonishing body of work: more than 500 songs released across 38 albums. But what not everyone knows is that some very good unreleased songs were left forgotten on demo tapes. When the band retired, NDF made the following prophecy to his bandmates: “One day, to your shame, I will bring those abandoned songs back to life.” That moment has now arrived.

Xabier de Felipe, Natxo’s son and now Assistant Concertmaster with Euskadiko Orkestra, true to the well-known “Philiperena” stubbornness, struck the following father-son deal: if the son could find a brilliant arranger, gather an outstanding quartet and take the reins of the project, NDF would sing those cruelly abandoned compositions once again. Prophecy fulfilled. Fifteen songs have now been recovered, recorded, and are ready to be performed live alongside NDF. That is how NDF & KUARTETO PHILIPERENA came into being. The “Oskorrians”, who once laughed at their old leader’s wild ideas, now watch this new adventure with anxiety, astonishment, and a certain touch of delight.