Book Tickets
This March, one of the most important venues in the city celebrates its birthday. L’Auditori de Barcelona turns 25 years old. Here is its history and what happened on the day of its inauguration, March 22nd 1999.
Almost 50 years ago…
It has been 25 years since the building opened its doors for the first time, the path to reach that day began many years before that. In September 1978, the then mayor of Barcelona, Josep Maria Socías, announced that they had a budget of 25 million pesetas to begin the construction of a “real auditorium.” It was even rumoured the architect of the project would be Josep Lluís Sert. The idea was put on hold for five years, and the Ministry of Culture gave money to the campaign to promote the national network of auditoriums. By that time, the current location for the future Auditorium had already been established.
Until 1985 there was no further news, although in that year the architect Rafael Moneo was named as being in charge of the project. 4 more years would pass until the construction agreement was signed between the Spanish Government, the Catalan Government and the City Council.
An Olympic dream that could not be
At the end of the 80s, Barcelona was being transformed for the Olympic Games of ’92. The entire city changed and construction became the norm in preparation to receive the world. When construction of the new Auditori began, it was announced that the building would be inaugurated in 1992, the same time that the city was living its Olympic dream. But it wasn’t to be. Construction did not progress again until 1996, and the Auditori finally opened its doors on March 22nd, 1999.
The century ends and culture flourishes in Barcelona
The end of the 20th century, not only marked the birth of the Auditori, the curtain of the Gran Teatre del Liceu was also raised again after the fire of 1994. During that time other important cultural buildings appeared in Barcelona. The Museu d’Història de Catalunya, the National Archive of Catalonia, the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) and the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya all opened their doors. Spaces such as the Library of Catalonia and the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) were renovated or expanded.
The architecture of Moneo
The press at the time not only paid attention to musical issues but also to the importance of the building itself. Days before the inauguration, Rafael Moneo declared that his only wish was “for the Auditori to sound good.” In any concert hall, acoustics are the main element reflected by the work with the expert Higini Arau. Moneo was influenced by the Philharmonie hall in Berlin, the Konzerthall in Amsterdam and the Boston Center Hall.
March 22, 1999 draws near
In the months leading up to the inauguration of the Auditori, there were many rumours and great interest in how the first days of the new music hall would be. The press carried news and interviews with those involved in the project. Advertisements encouraged citizens to live the experience with great enthusiasm: “Barcelona posa’t guapa que vas de premiere a L’Auditori”
The inauguration did not only consist of the main concert, but, for eight days, the Auditori would become a party with classical, ancient and modern music. Just six days before the key date, the first official rehearsal of the OBC orchestra took place on the stage of the Auditori. It was a somewhat special rehearsal, with the comings and goings of the workers hurrying to apply the finishing touches. Abili Fort, who was the then technical director of the orchestra, commented “Before the orchestra worked like a utility vehicle. “It’s like a big sports car here.”
And finally, the music plays
After a journey of so many years, the time had finally arrived to hear the first melodies in the new space. The pieces chosen for the first concert were loaded with symbolism. Barcelona’s connection with Wagner’s music was present in the prelude to Los Maestros Cantores. The symphonic sardana Empúries by Eduard Toldrà was also performed, as well as The Three-cornered Hat by Manuel Falla. Continuing with the music by Catalan composers, Joan Guinjoan’s Fanfàrria was premiered and the highlight of the evening was the presence of the great pianist Alicia de Larrocha who performed the solo part of Xavier Montsalvatge’s Brief Concerto. The concert ended with the Gloria del Pessebre by Pau Casals. To recreate that first concert at the Auditori we have prepared a Spotify playlist with the music that was heard that March 22nd, 1999.
Much more than an Auditorium
Apart from the concert halls (which have been enlarged over the years), the idea of the Auditori went further, becoming a city of music. Today it shares walls with the Escola Superior de Música de Cataluya (ESMUC) and the Museu de la Música.
Happy 25 years of music, Auditori!
