The Escolania de Montserrat children's choir performed a free concert at Park Güell this past Monday. This special event delighted 1,700 residents from Barcelona's Gràcia and Horta-Guinardó districts.
Park Güell and Barcelona de Serveis Municipals (BSM) organised the concert in collaboration with the Escolania. Their goal was to promote culture and open the iconic space to the city. This initiative aimed to blend music with architectural heritage within a unique setting. Residents registered for the free event through their local district offices.
A Diverse Musical Programme
The musical programme featured two distinct parts. The first section presented sacred repertoire, accompanied by organist Vicenç Prunés. It included traditional choir pieces such as "Cançó a la Moreneta" by Antoni Nicolau and "Salve Regina" by Francesc Civil. The choir also performed "Nigra sum", a piece Pau Casals composed specifically for the Escolania de Montserrat. Other sacred works were "Ubi caritas" by Jaume Aguilar and "Veni creator spiritus" by Raimon Romaní.
After a short interval, the choir interpreted a suite of sardanas and Montserrat melodies with six additional musicians. They gave the world premiere of Xavier Ventosa's "Ad trepudium rotundum". This suite fused melodies like "Cançó a la Moreneta" with sardanas such as "Marinada", "L’Empordà", and "La santa espina". Pau Jorquera directed the entire performance.
The Escolania de Montserrat's Legacy
The Escolania de Montserrat consists of about 50 boys aged 9 to 14. It is one of Spain's most traditional and internationally prestigious children's choirs. Their performances often draw significant audiences.
This concert highlights ongoing efforts to integrate Barcelona's cultural landmarks with local community engagement. Events like this offer residents unique opportunities to experience world-class music in historic settings.
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Originally published by betevé. Read original article.
