Catalan music is the protagonist, this November, in one of the most renowned stages in Europe: the Elbphilarmonie in Hamburg. From the 12th to the 16th of November, the German public will be able to listen to classic and current female composers performed by some of the most prominent figures of the Catalan music scene, in a focus which has had the support of the Ramon Llull Institute. This program highlights the richness of the Catalan musical tradition – from ancient music to roots music, passing through jazz and Mediterranean song – performed by some of the most representative bands of Catalonia.
On the 14th and 15th, the Minister of Culture, Sonia Hernandezwill be present in the Catalan spotlight attending some of the concerts and activities that make up the program in Hamburg, such as the performances of the Barcelona and National Symphony Orchestra of Cataloniaof Tart Relenaof the Cobla Sant Jordi Ciudad de Barcelona and of Palau de la Música Catalana Chamber Choir. He will also be present at the round table on the connections between Catalan music and German music that will take place on the 15th.
The spotlight will start with two of the great numbers of the Catalan musical heritage: Jordi Savall with Hesperion XXI y The Royal Chapel of Catalonia they will interpret the Red Book of Montserrat Wednesday, November 12. A meeting with Jordi Savall is planned beforehand, to contextualize the work.
They will perform on Thursday, November 13 Marco Mezquida & Chicuelo will present their third joint work, Of the soulwhich culminates a trilogy of jazz and flamenco fusion started in 2017. With the incorporation of Paco de Mode on percussion, the trio has consolidated a unique sound, which is embodied in pieces like swimming, Street of danger or The lighthouse of desires. Of the soul it is an ode to musical dialogue and the fusion of tradition and modernity.
On Friday, November 14, a double program is planned: first, at 7 p.m. and in the Great Hall, will perform the Barcelona and National Symphony Orchestra of Catalonia with a program that includes works by Claude Debussy, Frederic Mompou, Miquel Oliu, Isaac Albéniz and Maurice Ravel. Under the direction of Ludovic Morlotthe OBC will perform for the second time in the Elbphilharmonie; on this occasion, with the soprano of international renown Núria Rial. An hour before the concert, a talk with Verena Wife. In second place, at 9 p.m., the duet Relena cake will perform in the Sala Pequeña where he will present his second work It’s a questionwhich explores the vocal traditions of the Mediterranean, in a fusion of sacred and secular music from its characteristic combination of traditional and experimental genres. Since the premiere of this work, the Barcelona duo has already given more than fifty concerts all over the world.
On Saturday el foco catalán will offer a double program integrated, in its entirety, by Catalan composition: the concert of the Cobla Sant Jordi-City of Barcelona and the concert of Palau de la Música Catalana Chamber Choir. La Cobla will perform at 6:00 p.m. in the Sala Grande with a repertoire specially designed for the occasion, which will begin with classic pieces such as Jordan’s beech tree of Eduard Toldrà and it will follow with contemporary sardanas like Princess Nerídia’s dream of Marc Timonshowing how the sardana has transcended from popular dance to sophisticated concert music. The personal and musical relationships between female composers will also be explored, with pieces like Shepherdess in love of Juli Garretainfluenced by the European symphony, and twelve chandeliers of Xavier Pagès-Corellawhich shows the innovative capacity of the couplet. The concert will culminate with two masterpieces that exemplify the excellence of the contemporary copla: Color variants of Joan Albert Amargós y Puigsoliu of Joaquim Serra.
The day before the concert, Cobla Sant Jordi will also participate in a series of divulgative activities I return to the concert, among which there is a popular dance of sardanas in the inner Plaza of the Elbphilharmonie and a workshop-conference to present the copla and the sardana, and teach the German audience how to dance sardanas.
The Chamber Choir of the Palacio de la Música Catalana will offer a concert framed in Generation C, which wants to highlight a generation of contemporary Catalan female choral composers. Directed by Xavier Puigthey will interpret traditional choral pieces such as The song of the signof Lluís Millet y The emigrant of Amadeu Vivesnewly created as Or you all of Joan Magranéor Hail Mary Stellaof Josep Olléand from the popular songbook como The gallant godmotherby Arnau Tordera and The Arnau account by Feliu Gasull. The Elbphilharmonie already collaborated with the Palau de la Música in February 2024, when the Orfeó Català offered symphony no. 2 by Mendelssohn with the Balthasar Neumann Choir & Ensemble.
Also on Saturday, and with the title “Von Sardana bis Pau Casals – Die musikalische Seele Kataloniens” (“From Sardana to Pau Casals – The musical soul of Catalonia”), a table will be held round with the participation of Joan Ollédirector of the Palau de la Música; Xavier Puig director of the Orfeó Català and the Palau Chamber Choir; Maria Lladódirector of the IRL Creation Area and music journalist Albert Torrens The panel will be moderated by the deputy artistic director of the Elbphilarmonie, Vincent Dahm.
They will put the final point on Foco Catalan on Sunday Silvia Pérez Cruz and Salvador Sobralpresenting his new joint work which is a celebration of friendships and common inspirations with a repertoire that includes pieces written expressly for the occasion by Jorge Drexler, Luísa Sobral or Lau Noah, among others.
