History

In 1983, a group of young men from San Sebastián founded the OZENKI Ochote with the aim of reviving this coral tradition, which at that time was slowing falling into oblivion. From this year, OZENKI has participated in cultural festivals and popular parties, and, maintaining the primitive reason of being of the ochotes, it often acts in popular and grastronomic societies.

OZENKI has offered concerts in many towns of the Basque country (Donostia, Pasaia, Mutriku, Aretxabaleta, Zumaia, Irura...). Some of their performances have been offered by the radios and television of the Basque Country.

In 1987, in San Sebastian's Musical Festival, OZENKI interpreted the part coral of the opera "The Barber from Seville" in the "Victoria Eugenia" Theater, with singers like Domenico Trimarchi, Luigi Roni... with the Euskadi Symphonic Orchestra, and directed by David Parry.

The Ochote OZENKI has participated in numerous festivals in Spain, but also in other countries. In 1989 it was invited to the IX edition of the International "Festival of Popular Music" of Vilanova (Catalunya), representing the Basque Country. In October of 1991 it offered the inaugural concert of the VIII "Polyphonic Autumn of Aranda", in the Church of San Juan of Aranda de Duero.

In France OZENKI has sung several times. In 1994 it offered a concert in La Couronne-Angoulême (Aquitaine), with a program that included polyphony, folklore and spirituals. Also, it participates assiduously in the "Ochotes festivals" of Cambó-les-Bains or Bordeaux, in whose Theater of the Opera has also sung.

OZENKI recorded in 1996 its first disk: homage to the Father Madina, with reason of the 25 years of their death. It was a recording formed entirely with songs for "ochote" of this great Basque composer and musician (many of them recorded for the first time).

In 1997 OZENKI participated in Omis (Croatia) in the 37. Festival of "Klapas" (popular songs of Croatia), in a concert emitted in direct by Croatian Television.

In June of 1999 OZENKI sang in the inauguration of the new "Palace of Congresses" of San Sebastián. In October of the same year it acted in Borja in the XIX "Aragonese Musical Festival".

In 2001 the Ochote OZENKI participates in the "Festival of Ochotes" of Asturias. In October of the same year it recorded their second disk, "Festara! - Betiko Abestiak", that offers a wide sample of the songs that the ochotes has interpreted during many years in the Basque Country.

These last years OZENKI has participated in the Ochotes Festivals of Pamplona, Portugalete, Baiona and Cambó, and it continues offering concerts in towns of the Basque Country. It has presented their "Commented Concerts", for example, "Ochote and Music: a Good Menu", "The turn around the world in 80 quavers" and "A gastronomic and musical country", offered in two occasions in the "San Sebastián Musical Festival" of 2004.