Clàssica a la platja - Barcelona Obertura

Classical Music on the Beach

Barcelona is a city open to the sea, to the Mediterranean. Its beaches and its classical and lyric music offerings are two of the city’s main attractions. And what if we could enjoy both at the same time? A sea breeze, salt, warmth and the thrill of the city’s finest orchestras and choirs. In this city, anything is possible.

The most refreshing culture

The Gran Teatre del Liceu, El Cor de Cambra del Palau de la Música Catalana, and L’Auditori, present a new edition of Clàssica a la Platja, on the 8th and 9th of July at Sant Sebastià Beach, the Port of Barcelona, under the Barcelona Obertura umbrella and in collaboration with the Barcelona City Council. Two free concerts at the Port of Barcelona and open to all, which will turn the Barcelona coastline into a large open-air symphonic stage.

This year, the two concerts share a common thread: a journey through the great musical traditions of Europe and Latin America, via composers who transformed the folklore, dance and cultural identities of their countries into symphonic music of enormous expressive power and orchestral richness. The audience will be able to hear emblematic works by Johannes Brahms, Antonín Dvořák, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Alexander Borodin, Manuel de Falla, Alberto Ginastera and Maurice Ravel.

On Wednesday 8 July, Josep Pons will conduct the Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, and on Thursday 9 July, Ludovic Morlot will take the helm of the Barcelona Symphony and National Orchestra of Catalonia (OBC).

The initiative, which also counts with the collaboration of the ‘La Caixa’ Foundation, aims to continue bringing symphonic music to a diverse and broad audience and to show the world that Barcelona promotes, leads and is defined by classical music. And with the aim of bringing music to vulnerable groups who cannot get to the beach, the choirs of the Palau de la Música Catalana will bring music to those people who, for health reasons, cannot get to this venue, giving concerts in two care homes for the elderly and at the Hospital del Mar.

Accessibility

Metro: L4 Barceloneta
Bus: V15, V19, 47, 59, D20.

People with reduced mobility will be able to enjoy the concerts from a reserved space or ‘accessible’ area located at Passeig Marenostrum, 15, opposite the Desigual building. In addition, deaf and hard-of-hearing audience members will be able to experience the performance through the IMMERSIVE LIVE System. This service will be provided by a professional who is a native speaker of Sign Language. To book this service: [email protected]

Symphony orchestras and choirs

Under the baton of Josep Pons, the Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu will perform a programme full of rhythm, colour and symphonic energy, with such emblematic works as Brahms’s Hungarian Dances, Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances, a selection from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, Borodian’s Polovtsian Dances, Falla’s Fire Dance, excerpts from Ginastera’s Estancia and Ravel’s celebrated Boléro.

The concert is part of the 25th anniversary of the Petit Liceu and is designed for audiences of all ages. The repertoire invites the audience to discover and recognise some of the most iconic symphonic works in the universal repertoire, with a programme that offers a journey through works full of rhythm, lyricism and evocative power. From the folk energy of Brahms’s Hungarian Dance and Dvořák’s Slavonic Dance to the magic and fantasy of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. The evening will also include the intensity of Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances, the passion of Manuel de Falla’s The Love Potion, the rhythmic drive of Ginastera’s Estancia, and will culminate with Maurice Ravel’s celebrated Boléro, in a grand musical celebration open to all.

8 July – 21:00

Sant Sebastià Beach

Gran Teatre del Liceu Symphony Orchestra

Programme:

Johannes Brahms
Hungarian Dance No. 1 in G minor, WoO 1

Antonín Dvořák
Slavonic Dance No. 2 in E minor (‘Dumka’), Op. 72

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Selection from The Nutcracker
– March
– Dance of the Sugar-Puppet
– Russian Dance (Trepak)
– Arabian Dance
– Dance of the Reed-Flutes
– Waltz of the Flowers

Alexander Borodín
Polovtsian Dance No. 17 (Prince Igor)

Manuel de Falla
Ritual Fire Dance (The Magic Flute)

Alberto Ginastera
Fragments from Estancia
– The Agricultural Workers
– The Wheat Dance
– Final Dance (Malambo)

Maurice Ravel
Boléro

The second night of Classical Music on the Beach will continue with the Barcelona Symphony and National Orchestra of Catalonia (OBC), conducted by Ludovic Morlot, presenting a new evening entitled ‘An Imaginary Symphony’, a musical journey that brings together great moments from the symphonic repertoire. The programme, comprising a selection of excerpts from some of the most beloved symphonies, combines styles, eras and composers to offer an experience full of contrasts and emotions.

From the fire and vivacity of the Russian symphonism of Borodin, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky, to the melancholy and finesse of Brahms and Dvořák, this musical journey stands out for its melodic richness and orchestral power. A programme that invites the audience to enjoy a summer’s evening surrounded by music, emotion and the full power of a great symphony orchestra.

9 July – 21:00

Sant Sebastià Beach

Symphony Orchestra of Barcelona and National of Catalonia, OBC

Conductor:
Ludovic Morlot

Programme:

Alexander Borodin
Symphony No. 2 in B minor
I. Allegro

Sergei Rachmaninoff
Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27
II. Allegro molto

Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90
III. Poco allegretto

Antonín Dvořák
Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88, ‘English’
III. Allegretto grazioso – Molto vivace

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36
Finale: Allegro con fuoco

And, as with every edition, the Choirs of the Palau de la Música Catalana will be responsible for taking the music beyond the beach, bringing it to people who are unable to attend the concerts for health reasons. With this inclusive and social ethos, they will give three concerts in two care homes for the elderly and in a hospital in Barcelona.