Music and Güell
A new festival takes concerts to spaces related to Antoni Gaudí’s main patron.
2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Eusebi Güell (1846-1918), the most important patron of the architect Antoni Gaudí. Among the events planned to commemorate that fact is the Güell Festival, a series of classical music concerts that will take place at Palau Güell and in other spaces related to Güell and his family.
Three concerts will take place in the central hall at Palau Güell in March, a space that was originally conceived of by Eusebi Güell to be a concert hall. Experts point out that the hall, which was designed by Gaudí, is blessed with exceptional acoustics, thanks to a dome that acts like a giant speaker. The concerts will be held on three Saturdays – on 3, 10 and 24 March, and the first, which features soprano Maria Teresa Garrigosa, tenor Jordi Cortada and pianist Manuel Ruiz, is free though reservations are required. Attendees, both at this concert and the other two, will not only enjoy the music, but also a guided visit to the Palau before the recital, as well as a subsequent discussion with the musicians.
On 10 March, Ana Gobantes (piano), David Malet (organ) and the Clàssic BCN string quartet will perform in a concert titled Chamber Music at the Palace. Finally, on 24 March, there will be the recital Song: Poetry and Epic at Palau Güell, will feature soprano Júlia-Farrés Llongueras, and Esther Pinyol on harp and David Malet on organ.
After March, the Güell Festival will take music to places like the Crypt of the Colonia Güell (Santa Coloma de Cervelló), the Royal Catalan Academy of Fine Arts of Sant Jordi, the Güell Pavilions, the Royal Monastery of Santa Maria in Pedralbes, and Palau Moja. Before each performance, an explanation of Eusebi Güell and his family's relationship with the space in question will be given.
Additional information is available here.