TRAVELING IN SPAIN : BARCELONA PALAU DE LA MUSICA CATALANA

Barcelona Palua de la Musica Catalana

The Barcelona Palua de la Musica Catalana was designed and constructed between 1905 and 1908 by architect Lluis Domenech Montaner..  It is one of many concert halls in Barcelona, and has been one of its cultural icons providing many concerts, operas, and music of many genres over the last century.

Upon entering through a court yard, I first came upon the cafeteria and gift shop below.

Notice the flower petals on the columns and in the ceiling, a reflection on Catalan Modernism and Gaudian influence.  The concert hall was built in what was then a working class neighborhood.  The architect was of the opinion that colorful floral and tree-like sculptures and tiles would bring something of nature to a neighborhood of brick, mortar, factories and pollution.

Gaudi was enlivened with the concept of making nature organic with art, so it appears that Montaner was influenced by Gaudi's work.

Area below on the way to the concert hall.

Outside area of colorful ceramic tiles and sculptured flowers springing from the tops of the pillars, which became some of the characteristics of Gaudi or Catalan Modernism.

          Beautiful Chandelier and stain glass ceiling inside the concert hall.

Notice the trees and galloping horses as a framework for the stage.

The Pipe Organ, which we in the tour group heard play Mendelssohn's Wedding March exit, served as a reminder of what a major role pipe organ music once played in Western musical compositions and performances.

I am sorry that some of the stage photos have a blank space, which is actually a projector screen, as workers were setting the stage for the next performance that appeared to include the use of the screen.

The concert hall seats about 2,200 people.  The hall is in the traditional style of length as opposed to width in relationship with the stage.  If one sits in the lower level (usually called the orchestra) or in the balcony directly opposite from the stage, one has a good seat.  The side balconies face directly opposite one another.  The side balcony seats were not angled toward the stage.  Not, in my opinion, the best sight views for the side balcony attenders.  

By today's standards, I found the stage to be quite small.  Other auditoriums in Barcelona are larger with larger stages to accommodate the sets often required of major operas, and the seating needed for grand orchestras.  The Palau de la Musica has nonetheless had an illustrious history as every major orchestra conductor of the twentieth and twenty-first century have performed in the concert hall.

Needless to say, the Palau de la Musica Catalana is an architectural and musical gem that is highly treasured in Barcelona as a reflection of Catalan tradition and culture.

Exterior of Palau de la Musica Catalana from a street view, which is actually located at the rear of the auditorium.  There are also a number of other concert halls and practice rooms in the building, which allows for multiple areas of practice, since four or more unrelated concerts can be performed in any given week in the main concert hall.