The centenary of the Palau de la Música Catalana 1908- 2008
The Palau de la Música Catalana was built a hundred years ago, in tune with the collective ideas of a whole people and as a consequence of the most progressive of the ideas that dominated the society of the day.
This unique architectural masterpiece, designed by the brilliant architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner and commissioned by the Orfeó Català, was born with the open, forward-looking genes which are the key to its cultural development, its unique connection with the citizens of Barcelona and its universal recognition.
Over the last two decades the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona has been encouraged to come up to date in artistic, structural and heritage terms. In artistic terms, with the renewal of the choir of the Orfeó Català, the creation of the chamber choir of the Palau de la Música Catalana (1990) and of the choir school of the Orfeó Català (1999). In structural terms, with the public and private backing of the setting up of the Palau de la Música Catalana consortium (1983) to take charge of managing and operating the auditorium and administering the Palau de la Música Catalana building, as well as the creation of the Orfeó Català-Palau de la Música foundation (1990) in order to attract the resources needed to develop the choral groups of the Orfeó Català and organise 150 concerts a year at the Palau de la Música Catalana, among which the Palau 100 and Les Escoles al Palau series are this year's highlights. And in heritage terms, with the work carried out to refurbish and extend the Palau; directed by the architect Oscar Tusquets, these were inaugurated in 1989. Also in the heritage sphere was the ambitious project “Un Palau per al segle XXI” (“a palace for the 21st century”), leading to the opening on 22nd April 2004 of the Petit Palau auditorium and the Plaça del Palau.
A hundred years are the blink of an eye in the history of humanity, but on the other hand, they represent a major milestone in the history of the Palau. This is why we wanted the celebration of this centenary to be open to all levels and all age groups in our society. We wanted the plural nature of the commemorative events to have an impact in the cultural, artistic and musical spheres, but also a fun, public side. To sum up, the celebration of our centenary has been a celebration for everybody!
This unique architectural masterpiece, designed by the brilliant architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner and commissioned by the Orfeó Català, was born with the open, forward-looking genes which are the key to its cultural development, its unique connection with the citizens of Barcelona and its universal recognition.
Over the last two decades the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona has been encouraged to come up to date in artistic, structural and heritage terms. In artistic terms, with the renewal of the choir of the Orfeó Català, the creation of the chamber choir of the Palau de la Música Catalana (1990) and of the choir school of the Orfeó Català (1999). In structural terms, with the public and private backing of the setting up of the Palau de la Música Catalana consortium (1983) to take charge of managing and operating the auditorium and administering the Palau de la Música Catalana building, as well as the creation of the Orfeó Català-Palau de la Música foundation (1990) in order to attract the resources needed to develop the choral groups of the Orfeó Català and organise 150 concerts a year at the Palau de la Música Catalana, among which the Palau 100 and Les Escoles al Palau series are this year's highlights. And in heritage terms, with the work carried out to refurbish and extend the Palau; directed by the architect Oscar Tusquets, these were inaugurated in 1989. Also in the heritage sphere was the ambitious project “Un Palau per al segle XXI” (“a palace for the 21st century”), leading to the opening on 22nd April 2004 of the Petit Palau auditorium and the Plaça del Palau.
A hundred years are the blink of an eye in the history of humanity, but on the other hand, they represent a major milestone in the history of the Palau. This is why we wanted the celebration of this centenary to be open to all levels and all age groups in our society. We wanted the plural nature of the commemorative events to have an impact in the cultural, artistic and musical spheres, but also a fun, public side. To sum up, the celebration of our centenary has been a celebration for everybody!