- The El Greco Music Festival reaches its 12th edition with the Organ Battles at Toledo Cathedral.
- The concerts, scheduled for November 8, 15, and 22, will feature historical and innovative themes.
- The collaboration between institutions strengthens Toledo's bid to be European Capital of Culture in 2031.
- Highlights include the restoration of musical heritage and the commitment to quality cultural tourism.
Toledo hosts one of the most anticipated musical events on its cultural calendar., with the celebration of the twelfth edition of the El Greco Music Festival and the famous Organ Battles in the Primate Cathedral. The event will bring together some of the best national and international organists on November 8, 15, and 22, in concerts that stand out for their exclusivity. and for the link between heritage, music and historical tradition.
The festival, which has established itself over the years as a benchmark both in the city and throughout the province, also serves as a gateway to the imminent VIII Centenary of the Primate Cathedral, an event that will be celebrated in 2026, providing this edition with a special relevance and a festive prelude atmosphere.
Exclusive programming and three themed battles
As every year, the Toledo Cathedral will be the scene of the Organ Battles, a unique tradition that is not celebrated anywhere else in the world, in which the Cathedral's historic organs come to life in an authentic musical dialogue. This 2025, the program revolves around three major events: on November 8th, a performance dedicated to the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa will be offered; on the 15th, the Great Flood will be the central theme, with guest musicians from Portugal and France; and on November 22nd, for the first time, the recently restored bells and carillons of the cathedral itself will take center stage, in an event especially significant for the city's sound heritage.
The concerts will not only feature repertoires and improvisations by top-level organists, but They will incorporate innovative elements, such as the recovery of the pedals of the emperor's historic organ and the fusion of organ and bell music, which reflect Toledo's wealth of these instruments.
A city project and engine of cultural development
Institutional support has been key to the festival achieving its current prestige.The recent agreement signed by the Provincial Council, the City Council, and the Royal Foundation of Toledo strengthens a solid alliance to continue promoting excellent cultural offerings. Authorities emphasized that the festival's programming, the quality of the participating musicians, and a unique setting like the Toledo Cathedral make each edition a unique experience for both audiences and artists.
Beyond the strictly musical sphere, the El Greco Music Festival also symbolizes the Toledo's commitment to becoming the European Capital of Culture in 2031Culture plays a fundamental role in the social and economic development of the city and province, helping to promote quality tourism and promoting its heritage and art internationally.
Musical and artistic heritage, protagonist
Among this year's new features, the restoration of the chimes and the recovery of original elements of the historic organs will expand the artistic offering of the battles, highlighting the instrumental heritage of Toledo Cathedral, considered one of the cathedrals with the greatest number and variety of organs in Europe. Both the Dean of the Cathedral, Juan Pedro Sánchez Gamero, and the President of the Royal Toledo Foundation, Jesús Carrobles, have valued the opportunity to exhibit and use these instruments for the enjoyment of the public and the continued enrichment of Toledo's musical legacy.
Furthermore, this year's edition incorporates the collaboration of prestigious national cultural institutions, such as the Teatro Real, which consolidates the festival's national and international relevance. This boost allows the Organ Battles to move from being a local event to becoming a global event. a reference in the European music circuit and an example of how the union of tradition and modernity can leave its mark on the cultural sphere.
The El Greco Music Festival and the Organ Battles continue to grow year after year, bringing culture to every corner of the province and positioning Toledo as a benchmark for those who value its heritage, art, and organ music, both nationally and internationally.