Catalan music is the protagonist, this November, in one of the most prestigious stages in Europe: theHamburg Elbphilharmonie. From November 12 to 16, the German public will be able to get up close to classic and current composers performed by some of the most prominent names on 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 early 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, Sònia Hernández, will 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 Catalonia, Tarta Relena, the Cobla Sant Jordi Ciutat de Barcelona and the Chamber Choir of the Palau de la Música Catalana. 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 focus will start with two of the great names of Catalan musical heritage: Jordi Savall with Hesperion XXI i The Royal Chapel of Catalonia they will interpret the Red Book of Montserrat Wednesday, November 12. Prior to the concert, a meeting-chat with maestro Jordi Savall is planned, to contextualize the work.
Thursday, November 13 Marco Mezquida & Chicuelo will present their third joint work, Of the soulwhich culminates a triology of jazz and flamenco fusion started in 2017. With the addition of Paco de Mode on percussion, the trio has consolidated a unique sound, which is embodied in pieces such as 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.
Friday, November 14, a double program has been planned: first, at 7 p.m. in the Great Hall, he will perform the Barcelona and National Symphony Orchestra of Catalonia with a program that includes pieces by Claude Debussy, Frederic Mompou, Miquel Oliu, Isaac Albéniz and Maurice Ravel. The OBC will act under the direction of Ludovic Morlot and with the internationally renowned soprano 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 Petita where he will present his new work It’s a question.
On Saturday there is also a double program with two concerts: the one of the Cobla Sant Jordi-City of Barcelona and that of Palau de la Música Catalana Chamber Choir. La Cobla will perform at 18.00 in the Great Hall with a repertoire specially designed for the occasion, which will begin with classic pieces such as Jordan’s beech tree ofEduard Toldrà and will continue with contemporary sardines like Princess Nerídia’s dream of Marc Timonshowing how the sardana has transcended from popular dance to sophisticated concert music. Personal and musical relationships between composers will also be explored, with pieces like Shepherdess in love of Juli Garretainfluenced by European symphonism, and twelve lustras 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 couplet: Color variants of Joan Albert Amargós i Puigsoliu of Joaquim Serra
The day before the concert, the Sant Jordi choir will also participate in a series ofoutreach activities around the concert, including a popular sardana dance in the Elbphilharmonie’s inner square and a workshop-conference to present the couplet and the sardana, and teach the German audience how to dance sardana.
The Chamber Choir of the Palau de la Música Catalana will offer a concert framed in generation C, which aims to highlight the new generation of contemporary Catalan choral composers. The program will also incorporate traditional works from the Catalan choral heritage and the contemporary popular songbook, which will allow you to enjoy a musical journey through the history of choral music in Catalonia.
Directed by Xavier Puigthey will perform pieces of choral tradition such as The song of the signby Lluís Millet and The emigrant of Amadeu Vives, newly created com Or you all by Joan Magrané, o Hail Mary Stellaby Josep Ollé, and the popular songwriter com The gallant godmotherby Arnau Tordera, i The Arnau account by Feliu Gasull.
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 round table with the participation of Joan Ollédirector of the Palau de la Música; Xavier Puig director of the Catalan Orfeó and the Palau Chamber Choir; Maria Lladódirector of the IRL’s Creative Department and music journalist Albert Torrens The panel will be moderated by the deputy artistic director of the Elbphilarmonie Vincent Dahm.
The final point in Focus Català will be put on Sunday Silvia Pérez Cruz and Salvador Sobralpresenting their joint work that is un 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.
