Two concerts celebrating the legacy of Pau Casals

Although Pau Casals, probably the most important Catalan musician in the 20th century, died 45 years ago, his memory, his art and the example he gave of moral integrity continue to resonate in our culture. Every four years, the Pau Casals Foundation holds a special day devoted to his music,  coinciding with the day in which he was appointed adoptive son of Barcelona, in 1934, and this year the commemoration will actually be spread over two different dates and in two different venues. First of all, on 12 June, the Palau de la Música will host a concert featuring Sol Gabetta - the great Argentine cellist - and pianist Bertrand Chamayou, who will play three pieces that were staples of Casals’ repertoire, five pieces in a popular style by Robert Schumann, the Sonata in C Major by Benjamin Britten and the Sonata in G minor by Frederic Chopin.

And there will be a second concert in Barcelona’s Plaça del Rei at 8pm on 14 June featuring the Castellers Els Nens del Vendrell and the Orquestra Xavier Montsalvatge of IEA Oriol Martorell, together with the Orquestra Amadeus, the VOZES Symphony Orchestra and a formation of over 40 cellists conducted by Josep Pons, the conductor of the orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu. The repertoire will consist of pieces by Enric Morera (Queixa i Dansa), Ludwig van Beethoven (the end of the fifth symphony) and Piotr I. Tchaikovsky (Serenade for strings), and two pieces popularized by Casals, Sant Martí del Canigó and El cant dels ocells.

This second concert is free. Tickets sales and additional information can be found at the following link.