John Zorn will return to the Heineken Jazzaldia to present his Bagatelles Marathon

Fourteen different ensembles will perform over fifty compositions by Zorn in two sessions, on 27th and 28th July 2019 at the Kursaal Auditorium

Mary Halvorson, Kris Davis, Marc Ribot, Julian Lage, Dave Douglas, Craig Taborn and John Medeski will feature among the more than thirty exciting artists who will participate in the Bagatelles Marathon

The Masada Marathon of 2013, similar in format to the Bagatelles Marathon, is remembered as one of the culminating moments in the history of the Festival

John Zorn will return to San Sebastian, to the Heineken Jazzaldia, after the resounding success achieved in 2013, at the 48th edition of the Festival, with his Masada Marathon. This time, he will do it as the frontman of the Bagatelles Marathon, divided into two afternoon sessions at the Kursaal Auditorium, one on July 27th and the other on July 28th.

From March to May 2015, John Zorn wrote 300 new compositions compiled in a book of music called The Bagatelles. This special marathon concert, divided into two sessions, features 14 different ensembles performing over 50 compositions from Zorn’s expansive new book of music.

The more than thirty participating musicians will include Mary Halvorson, Marc Ribot, Kris Davis, Julian Lage, Dave Douglas, Joey Baron, Craig Taborn, Peter Evans, John Medeski, Ikue Mori, Erik Friedlander, Mark Feldman, Sylvie Courvoisier, Kenny Wollesen, Trevor Dunn and many others who understand Zorn’s creative universe like nobody else.

The 2013 Masada Marathon brought almost five hours of nonstop music to the Kursaal Auditorium, with a line-up of 12 ensembles featuring most of the musicians listed above, although now, for the Bagatelles Marathon, we will find some new and high-caliber additions, such as Mary Halvorson, Julian Lage, Kris Davis, Craig Taborn, Peter Evans, and John Medeski.

Masada Marathon was unanimously acclaimed by the critics and the audience was left with the feeling of having lived a historical moment. Numerous aficionados referred to that concert as one of the best in the history of the Festival.

Bagatelles Marathon shares the same concept, except that this time round the number of ensembles rises to 14 and each group will play for between 20 and 25 minutes. That’s why the decision was taken to divide the concert into two sessions at the Kursaal Auditorium, on July 27th and 28th.

Bagatelles Marathon is a fascinating microcosm of John Zorn’s musical universe, including core members of his inner circle as well as exciting new players from the worlds of rock, jazz and classical music, all outstanding members of New York City’s vibrant downtown community.

Tickets for the Bagatelles Marathon will go on sale when we announce the full programme of the 54th Heineken Jazzaldia, to run from 24th to 28th July 2019. The Festival organisation is already working on the programme and hopes to be able to announce it around February 2019.