Music & Opera : programm and booking for Barcelona

Barcelona and music

History

Architecture

A genuine European metropolis, the Catalan capital is one of the most dynamic and exciting cities on the Mediterranean coast. A haunt of a great many artists (Picasso, Miró, Dali, Gaudí,…), the venue for the Olympic Games in 1992, a centre for fine eating and for the fiesta, Barcelona has a thousand and one delights to offer...

Barcelona and music :
The cultural life of Barcelona has always revolved around music.

1708 – 1846:
Opera was introduced to Catalonia by the Archduke Charles of Austria and El piu bel nome, by Antonio Cardara, was the first opera performed. Opera became very popular in Barcelona in the second half of the 18th century, and performances were then put on at the Santa Gran Teatre.

1847 – 1862:
On 4 April 1847, the Gran Teatre del Liceu established by Miguel Garriga, opened its doors with a very diverse programme. Anna Bolena by Donizetti was one of the major events here.
In 1861, the theatre caught fire. It was rebuilt one year later to become the true rival of the old Santa Gran Teatre. At the end of the 19th century, the Liceu became the venue where people came to see and be seen; which is why the shows were performed with the house lights left on.

1863 – 1913:
The work of national composers was rarely performed. However, among them were several highly esteemed composers, including GURIDI, ARRIETA and BRETON.
The great French operas did not take hold quite as quickly as the Italian repertoire. It was in 1851 that Robert le diable was performed. Enthusiasm for MEYERBEER reached its peak with the performance of the play Les Huguenots in 1856; he is one of the most frequently performed composers in the history of the Liceu. This fascination of the public for the French repertoire grew with the performances of GOUNOD’s Faust in 1864 which was considered, with its 26 consecutive performances, as the last word in opera.
At the end of the 19th century, the Liceu was one of the leading opera houses in Europe. Verdi was performed there, as were the great French operas, and national composers such as Felip PEDRELL and Wagner. Die Walküre caused a sensation and the house lights of the Liceu were put out for the first time.

1914-1938:
The performance of Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov on 20 November 1915 marked the beginning of a period of splendour for Russian opera at the Liceu.
When the second republic was proclaimed in 1931, political instability led to a serious financial crisis which badly affected the Liceu. During the civil war, the Liceu was nationalised and took the name “Gran Teatre del Liceu”. Its seasons were later suspended.

1939-1975:
The activities of the Liceu began again in 1939 under the aegis of the Spanish and German authorities, subject to the propaganda of the Third Reich. Wagner was the most frequently performed composer during this period.
In 1955, for the first time in its history, the Festival of Bayreuth was held at the Gran Teatre del Liceu. Germany felt the need to make up for its recent past. Barcelona was an obvious choice, given its longstanding Wagnerian tradition and the authoritarian regime that kept away any hostile element.

1976 – 1999: The Liceu today
On 31 January 1994, the Liceu was once again destroyed by fire and it was rebuilt on the same site. The new building opened in 1999 offering great artistic and technological quality whilst respecting the former décor which had been reproduced.
Its stage allows two or three performances at the same time with maximum visibility and an improved acoustic quality.

The venues : See " Calendar".
Barcelona is remarkable for its highly varied range of musical performances. From classical music, opera and ballet to the most modern music, through jazz, flamenco, pop and rock. In 1999, the city took over the management of the Liceu and opened the Auditori which offers a programme that includes the most modern musical genres and styles.

– Auditori - c/Lepant 150 – Tel : (34) 93 247 93 00
Website : www.auditori.org
Home of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya, this is the hallmark venue offering the city’s most glittering musical and social activities.

– Palau de la Música Catalana – c/ Sant Francesc de Paula, 2 -
Website : www.palaumusica.org
The finest classical and contemporary music concerts performed by the most prestigious orchestras are held in this wonderful Modernist building

– Gran Teatre del Liceu - La Rambla 61
Website : www.liceubarcelona.com

– Festival Castell de Peralada - c/Pere de Montcada 1
Website : www.festivalperalada.com
The Festival takes place in July and August in a Renaissance château in a little medieval village between Figueres and the Costa Brava.
The Auditorium is in the gardens of the château, and you can attend performances of operas, zarzuelas, ballets and symphony concerts and recitals.

Spain’s second city in terms of population and economic importance, Barcelona has suffered numerous invasions in the course of its history.

Founded by the Phocaeans, the Carthaginians settled there in around 236 BC. In 201 BC, the Romans conquered the town during the second Punic War. Then the Visigoths seized it in 415 and named it Barcina. The year 712 saw the arrival of the Saracens, then in 801 the city was taken back by Louis the Pious and became Christian again.

In the 12th century Catalonia was powerful and independent but it declined with the passing years. The year 1714 marked a turning point for the city when it fell under Castilian domination; part of the population then went into exile and the civic liberties of the town came to an end.

In the 18th century, the boom in the textile industry and the economic and demographic growth of the town enabled it to recover. In 1888, with the Universal Exposition, the town displayed its prosperity through its Modernist architecture but there were many social conflicts and anarchist attacks.

The civil war of 1936 brought severe fighting to Barcelona, and the town suffered successive bombing. The republican government moved into the city but was unable to resist the nationalist troops which, under Franco’s command, subjected the city’s population to very harsh cultural and political repression, even prohibiting the use of the Catalan language.

Barcelona began its recovery in 1977, following the victory of the democrats and the death of Franco.

In 1992, the Olympic Games had a considerable economic impact. With its new urban appearance, Barcelona 92 was emerging as an economic, financial and industrial centre.

Barcelona is currently preparing for a new event planned for 2004: the Universal Forum of Cultures, a local project supported by UNESCO. This event is designed to be a celebration of cultural diversity and peace.

Barcelona’s first town wall was built by the Romans in the 4th century AD. Until the end of the 18th century, Barcelona remained within its medieval walls, whilst several villages grew up around it which later became part of the city (Sants, Sarrià, Gràcia...).

In 1859, the demolition of the fortified surrounding wall allowed the district of the Eixample to be developed, offering a chance for a whole generation of architects to express their vision of Art Nouveau.

Rather than plagiarising the trends of the time, they created a specifically Catalan style: "Modernisme", the main exponents of which were Josep Puig i Cadafalch, Lluis Doménech i Montaner and Antoni Gaudí. Gaudí has left an indelible mark on his city. An architect who was at the same time an iconoclast, a visionary and a mystic, his unusual buildings have provoked as much controversy as admiration. His free and individual style includes influences from Byzantine, Muslim, Mudéjar and Gothic art.

This architectural style, recognised worldwide, was revealed at the 1929 Universal Exposition.

For the 1992 Olympic Games, the building of the Olympic stadium represented Spain’s biggest investment in the field of sport. The development plan, designed by the architects Oriol Bohigas, Josep Martorell, David Mackay and Albert Puigdomèneck, included the construction of housing for two thousand people and the Olympic port as well as the rehabilitation of 4 km of beach.

Some Highlights :

In the surrounding area :

GOTHIC QUARTER
The medieval centre of the city and a veritable labyrinth…

- Santa Creu Cathedral
www.website.es/catedralbcn/
The cathedral stands on the site of a Visigoth basilica; its construction began in 1298 and the main façade was completed in 1899, to plans (1408) by the French architect Charles Galtès.

LA RAMBLA
This famous boulevard begins in Plaça de Catalunya and goes down to the Mirador de Colón; on it you will find typical shops, cafés, the Palau de la Virreina, the Boquería (the city’s finest market), the Gran Teatre del Liceu and the Santa Mònica Arts Centre.

- Mirador Colón
Facing the sea, this monument was built in 1888 for the Universal Exposition, to commemorate the discovery of America.

- Plaça Reial
Built from 1848 onwards on the remains of a former Capuchin monastery, this square is one of the most cosmopolitan meeting points in Barcelona. In the centre is the “Fountain of the Three Graces” and two street lamps designed by Gaudí.

THE WATER FRONT: the Olympic village

- Ciutadella Park
The park is next to the Ribera district, the site of the former military fortification from which it derives its name. Some of the buildings of the ancient fortress are preserved within it, such as the chapel, the governor’s Palace and the Arsenal...

- Puerto Olympico and Puerto Vell
The two harbours offer a range of entertainments, bars, restaurants,…

- The Barcelona of the Olympic Games
The Olympic village encompasses around sixty hectares of apartments and open spaces, built to replace the city’s former industrial zone.

THE EIXAMPLE AND MODERNIST ARCHITECTURE
A vast commercial and residential district, with a grid pattern of intersecting avenues, it illustrates a new vision of the city. This “golden square” contains the largest number of Modernist buildings in Barcelona.

- Sagrada Familia
Website : www.sagradafamilia.org
Gaudí’s final masterpiece, its construction began in 1882, but the undertaking is so huge that it is still a long way from completion.

- Passeig de Gràcia
One of the most attractive main streets of Barcelona, lined with superb Modernist buildings: Casa Lleó Morera by Doménech i Montaner (1905), Casa Ametler by Puig i Cadalfach (1900), Casa Batlló, Palau Güell (1885-1890), and Casa Milà by Gaudí (1905).

- Palau de la Música Catalana
An absolute masterpiece of Spanish Modernism. The exterior and interior decoration is quite simply extraordinary...

- Güell Park
This is Gaudí’s largest piece of work. It consists of an area of 20 hectares that was destined to become an English-style city park.

MONTJUIC : a mountain in the town

- Montjuïc Park
On the occasion of the 1929 Exposition, Montjuic hill was developed with the construction of the exhibition grounds and a set of parks and gardens.

- The Font Mágica
Right at the centre of Montjuic hill, the Font Mágica was built by Carles Buïgas for the 1929 Exposition.

- Mirò Foundation

To the west: Lleida and its province, very well-known for its olive oil but also for its Romanesque churches.
To the north: Girona, with its large medieval Jewish quarter that has recently been refurbished, and Figueres, the home of the Dalí Museum. The Costa Brava and its beaches, creeks and cliffs with outstanding landscapes. And Empúries, with impressive ruins that are testimony to the Greek and Roman presence in antiquity and Cadaqués, a small village seaside resort known internationally thanks to artists such as Picasso and Dalí who turned it into a haunt for avant-garde artists. Not forgetting the Pyrenees, a natural frontier with France and Andorra with its ski resorts and “Duty Free” supermarkets.
60 km from Barcelona is the nature reserve of Montserrat, a unique range of rocky mountains with at its centre the Benedictine Monastery, built in the 11th century to honour the Virgin of Montserrat (Moreneta or Black Virgin), the Patron Saint of Catalonia. At the foot of Montserrat spreads out the region of Penedès, a great traditional wine-growing area where “Cava” is produced.
To the south: Sitges beside the sea is known for its bohemian atmosphere, then Tarragona, the principal town of the Roman Empire, which offers numerous archeological walks.

- LLEIDA
150 km from Barcelona. Ideal for a cultural heritage tour.
Recommended tours: The Seu Vella – ancient Romanesque and Gothic cathedral that is the town’s symbol. The Paeria – Town Hall, a jewel of civil Romanesque art, the Jaume Morera Museum of Art, …
See www.turismedelleida.com

- GIRONA
100 km north of Barcelona, a typical medieval town.
Recommended tours: the Call – medieval Jewish quarter with the Isaac el Cec centre, the Cathedral, the medieval houses which line the banks of the river Onyar, the Arab Baths…

- SITGES
37 km south of Barcelona, Sitges is a seaside resort but also a charming village with numerous hotels.
See www.sitges.com

Traditional customs

Food & Drink

Bilingualism
The Catalan language reached its maturity around the 10th century. Over the last three centuries the speaking of Catalan has often been prohibited. Since the granting of autonomy to the region, Castilian was pushed into second place and the teaching of Catalan was made compulsory in schools. Today, over 77% of the inhabitants of the region can understand and speak Catalan.

Tradition
The castells or human castles, a feat performed in teams that consists of building the layers of a human pyramid as high and stable as possible.

Fiestas in Barcelona
End of February: Mardi Gras carnival. The procession follows Carnestoltes, Mister Carnival made of cardboard. This is also the fiesta of Santa Eulalia, the patron saint of the town.
March: Semana Santa is an occasion of great processions around the cathedral and in the little narrow streets of the old town.
23 April: Fiesta of Sant Jordi, patron saint of Catalonia. Boys give girls a rose, who respond by giving them a book, to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Cervantes. The Ramblas are teeming with people and stalls of flowers and books are to be found on every street corner.
24 June: Fiesta of Sant Joan - concerts, dancing and fireworks in all districts on the night of the 23 June. This is the day when everyone eats a delicious dessert, called Coca de Sant Joan.
From the end of June to 15 August: GREC, Barcelona’s big summer festival. Lots of shows in the theatres, streets and gardens of the city (theatre, music, etc.).
11 September: Diada, Catalonia’s National Festival.
24 September: Fiesta of La Mercè, patron saint of Barcelona. She owes her sainthood to her courage during an invasion of locusts which she drove back in the year 1637! This is the occasion when the Pasacalles, popular dances, sports competitions, etc. take place.
December: the week before Christmas it is the Fiesta of Santa Llucia, and around the cathedral stands are set up with figurines representing Nativity scenes. A unique feature of these is that alongside the infant Jesus, the three Kings, Mary and Joseph, you will find a little chap squatting with his trousers down: this is the Caganer (literally, the “crapper”), a purely Catalan invention! This little shepherd is supposed to symbolise fertility.

Dishes
Catalan cooking uses regional produce; olive oil, aromatic herbs, dried fruits and fresh produce are the basic ingredients of this cuisine.
If you want to eat, you have to go to restaurants, or marisquerías for seafood or to a mesón for a more home-style cooking

Catalan dishes
- Pan amb tomàquet: slices of bread rubbed with garlic and tomato and sprinkled with olive oil.
- Romesco: this is a sauce from Tarragona, made of tomatoes, fried bread and grilled almonds, flavoured with garlic and chilli, vinegar, herbs and spices.
- Calçotada: a veritable Catalan institution! The fresh onions are cooked over the embers then literally “peeled away “ from their skin and eaten with Romesco sauce.
- Zarzuela: a dish based on firm-fleshed fish simmered with tomatoes, garlic, onions, cinnamon, Jérez (sherry), bay leaves and paprika. Finally, it is flambéed with rum or brandy and langoustines, squid, mussels and small clams are then added.
- Suquet de peix: a local bouillabaisse.
- Fideuá: a dish similar to paella but with noodles instead of rice.
- Escudella i carn d'olla: the local pot-au-feu – meat, sausages and vegetables are all cooked together.
- Faves ofegades: beans with lardons and with white and black pudding – botifarra –, fresh peas and mint.
- Bacallà amb panses i pinyons: dried cod sprinkled with flour, with raisins, pine nuts, tomato sauce and soft-boiled egg.
- Mariscada: a tray of seafood, in which langoustines and shrimps are fried in olive oil and garlic.
- Samfaina: Catalan ratatouille.
- Coca de recapte: home-made pie consisting of a bed of onions, aubergines and chillies.
- Cassola del tros: stew of pork conserve, rabbit and snails accompanied by potatoes, spinach, grilled peppers…

Desserts
- Crema catalana: a custard flavoured with cinnamon, this is very tasty.
- Mel i mató: a soft sheep’s cheese accompanied by honey and walnuts.
- Leche frita: a sweetened thick béchamel sauce, cut into squares and fried then sprinkled with sugar.
- Menjar blanc: a cake based on almonds and cinnamon.
- Not forgetting the tasty churros and bunyols!

Drinks

The cerveseries (cervecerías) serve beer but also every kind of drink, as do the tabernas. The bodega is a wine bar.

- Orxata - horchata, a very refreshing drink, made with the juice of chufa, tiger nuts.

- Granizado – an iced drink made of lemon or orange juice or coffee.

- Cerveza – beer, the most widespread drink! But watch out, in a bar, if you ask for “una cerveza” you will get bottled beer, for draught ask for “una caña”.

- Vermuth al grifo – wine warmed up and steeped with herbs and served with sparkling water.

- Cava - Catalan champagne with a more fruity and acid tang than French champagne. The most well-known names are Freixenet and Codorniú.

- Moscatel: a sweet wine.

Things to Do

Shopping
Barcelona has created the Shopping Line, an extraordinary 5 km long shopping route integrated into the urban fabric, which allows you to visit the city’s finest shops whilst taking in the tourist areas. It takes you on foot between the city’s various shopping districts: the Port Vell, the Rambla, the historic centre, Gothic Quarter, Plaça de Catalunya, the Eixample and the new business centre on the Avenida Diagonal.

MUSEUMS

Fondation Mirò – Av Miramar, 1
Internet : www.bcn.fjmiro.es
The collection includes over 400 works by Miró, paintings, sculptures and tapestries as well as a major collection of contemporary art.

Museu d’Historia de Catalunya - Plaça de Pau Vila
Tel : (34) 93 225 47 00 - Site : www.mhcat.net
Its permanent exhibition takes the form of an interactive journey through Catalunya's past, from the mists of prehistory to the present day.

Museu d’Historia de la Ciutat - Carrer Verguer
Tel : (34) 93 315 11 11 - Site : www.museuhistoria.bcn.es
The City History Museum is responsible for the research, conservation and promotion of the city's historical patrimony.

Museu Maritimo – Av. Drassanes, 1
Tel : (34) 93 342 99 20 - Site : www.diba.es/museu/maritim.htm
Documents about navigation.

Museu Picasso - Montcada, 15-19
Site : www.museupicasso.bcn.es
The biggest museum dedicated to Picasso in the World.

Fundació Antoni Tapies - Aragó, 255
Tel.: 34 93 487 0315 - Site : www.fundaciotapies.org
The Fundació is located in a modernist building from Domènech i Montaner.

Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya - Palau Nacional. Parc de Montjuïc
Tel : (34) 93 423 71 99 - Site : www.mnac.es
Collections d'art du XI au XVIII siècle.

Museu d’Art Modern del MNAC - Parc Ciutadella
Site : www.mnac.es
Art collections from the XI to the XVIII Century.

Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona - Plaça dels Àngels, 1
Tel 34 93 412 0810 - Site : www.macba.es
Designed by the American architect Richard Meier (1996), the museum present a wide choice of exhibitions and cultural activities.
Next exhibition : Joan Hernández Pijuan from 22 Jan to 23 March 2003

Hôtels :

LE MERIDIEN BARCELONA *****
Ramblas, 111
Tel : (34) 93 318 44 32 - Fax : 34 93 301 7776
Email : reservas.barcelona@lemeridien.com
Site : www.lemeridien-barcelona.com
Elegant and emblematic, Le Méridien Barcelona is situated on the world famous boulevard, Las Ramblas.
The hotel features 212 rooms and suites, all elegantly decorated with Mediterranean colours. The suites promise spectacular views of the Gothic Quarter the port, Montjuic and the Olympic Stadium. All Mediterranean Suites have a large terrace overlooking Barcelona.
Tastefully decorated with a pleasant atmosphere, Le Patio Restaurant is famous for its buffet platters & delicious à la carte dishes. Le Piano cocktail bar is the ideal meeting point to have a drink with live music.

HOTEL MAJESTIC *****
Passeig de Gracia, 68
Tel : 34 93 488 1717 - Fax : 34 93 487 9790
Email : reservas@hotelmajestic.es
Site : www.hotelmajestic.es
The Majestic Hotel is a symbol of the finest tradition in hospitality. Due to its strategic location in the heart of Barcelona, this meeting point is the only 5 Star Hotel on the Passeig de Gracia.
The Majestic has 303 fully equipped rooms including one luxurious Apartment with terrace and wonderful views of the city, 8 Suites and 22 Junior Suites.
After relaxing the clients can enjoy a special Cocktail in the Bar or a spectacular gastronomical meal at the famous Restaurant Drolma.
The pool-bar on the top with sauna and fitness centre where the panoramic view is breath-taking.
For Music and Opera readers the Majestic offers a special Discovery package from 189 Eur. which includes City Tour tickets, Barcelona Souvenir and Buffet breakfast.

Hotel Avenida Palace
Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 605-607
Tel: 34 93 301 96 00 – Fax: 94 93 318 12 34
Email : avpalace@husa.es
Site : www.husa.es
The Hotel Avenida Palace is a classic in Barcelona and takes advantage of its magnificent location in the city centre. The hotel, which has been recently renovated offers classical Catalonian hospitality in a privately managed hotel. 151 comfortable rooms which have recently been refurbished but maintains its classical art deco from the old days. Restaurant "Insolit Barcelona", open daily. Room service. Fitness.

HOTEL RITZ *****
Gran via de les Corts catalanes 668
Tel : 34 93 510 11 30 - Fax : 34 93 317 36 40

Restaurants :

- DROLMA - Hôtel Majestic - Passeig de gracia, 68
Tel : (34) 93 496 7710
Drolma, opened in 1999, is considered one of the city's best haute cuisine restaurants. You’ll enjoy all flavors and sensations of chef Fermí Puig's unique cooking.

- NEICHEL - Beltran i Rózpide 16 (Pedralbes)
Tel : (34) 93 203 84 08
One of the 10 best restaurants of Spain – 2 stars in Michelin Directory)

- JEAN LUC FIGUERAS - Santa Teresa 10
Tel : (34) 93 415 28 77
Very original and creative menu as well as Catalan specialities.

- JAUME DE PROVENÇA - Provença 88
Tel : (34) 93 430 00 29
Beautiful place, Catalan cuisine - Market produce cuisine.

- JULIVERT MEU - Jorge Girona Salgado, 12
Tel : (34) 93 204 11 96
Traditional restaurant with Catalan Cuisine

- AGUT D´AVIGNON - Trinitat 3
Tel : (34) 93 302 60 34
Catalan cuisine - Market produce cuisine.

- LOS CARACOLES - Escudellers, 14
Tel.: (34) 933 023 185
Catalan cuisine – original decoration – speciality: snails

- AGUT - Gignàs 16
Tel : (34) 93 315 17 09
The best place to try the Catalan sausage…

- PASSADIS D´EN PEP - Pla de Palau 2
Tel : (34) 93 310 10 21
The best seafood of the city.

- AGUA - Avinguda Diagonal - 508 Principal
Panoramic restaurant, here you can sample Market produce cuisine, fish ans seafood.

- SAGARDI - Carrer Argenteria, 62
Tel : (34) 93 319 99 93
Basque regional cuisine, the restaurant is located next to Santa María del Mar Church.