Francisco Valero-Terribas forged his musical identity from within the orchestra as a highly respected clarinettist before making a natural transition to the podium. This dual perspective remains central to his artistic profile: a conducting approach defined by structural command, refined control of balance and an acute sense of collective breathing. His presence on the podium is clear, precise and dependable, qualities recognised by musicians and institutions alike and reflected in the trust placed in him by Bernard Haitink and Lorin Maazel.
Firmly rooted in the European conducting tradition, his artistic development was shaped through close professional collaboration with Maazel, Haitink, David Zinman, Kurt Masur and Jesús López Cobos. This lineage informs an approach grounded in long-range architectural thinking and interpretative coherence across the core symphonic and operatic repertoire.
His international activity spans Europe, Asia and the Americas, with engagements including the KBS Symphony Orchestra, Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra, Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira, Haifa Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestras of Colombia and Costa Rica.
In Spain, he appears regularly with the Orquesta Sinfónica de RTVE, Orquesta Sinfónica de Bilbao, Orquesta de Valencia, Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga and the Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España.
A defining chapter of his career was his long-term association as Associate Conductor of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, where he assumed significant artistic responsibility, notably contributing to the complete Berlioz project for Warner Music Group alongside John Nelson. He has also been entrusted with cover engagements and performances undertaken at short notice, demonstrating authority, composure and reliability under pressure.
He has collaborated with soloists including Joyce DiDonato, Erin Morley, Michael Spyres, Alena Baeva, Liviu Prunaru and Joaquín Achúcarro. Alongside the central symphonic and operatic canon, he maintains an active commitment to contemporary creation, conducting premières of works by João Guilherme Ripper, Avner Dorman, Michael Gandolfi, Nuria Núñez, Emily Cooley and Oliver Knussen.
He has served as Assistant Conductor at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía and as Resident Conductor of the Castleton Festival by personal invitation of Maazel. His artistic formation was further shaped through advanced professional programmes with the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, the Lucerne Festival Academy, the Manhattan School of Music and the Järvi Academy, as well as at the Cabrillo Music Festival upon nomination by Marin Alsop.
His repertoire shows particular affinity for the late Romantic and early twentieth-century tradition, combining large-scale symphonic architecture, operatic fluency and intelligent programming that integrates less frequently performed repertoire without compromising artistic integrity.
Selected Quotes
“There are only a very few people who are true conductors. Francisco Valero-Terribas is one of them.”
— Lorin Maazel
“He is at the top… A servant-leader… A musician’s musician. Supremely musical… His technique reminds me of Abbado: graceful and efficacious.”
— John Nelson
“One of the most valuable, unquestionable, and effective Spanish conductors of his generation.”
— Scherzo Magazine