Camerata XXI, in collaboration with Associació Joan Manén, will present “Sons de la terra. Homenatge a Antoni Gaudí” (Sounds of the Earth. Homage to Antoni Gaudí) in Reus and Valls. This large-scale musical event connects nature, memory, and art through a programme that celebrates Catalonia's cultural heritage. Inspired by Antoni Gaudí's deep connection with nature as a source of beauty, balance, and spirituality, the concert offers a musical journey that blends Catalan tradition with contemporary creation.

The concerts mark the start of the special programme “Gaudí: Harmonies de pedra i llum” (Gaudí: Harmonies of Stone and Light), which Camerata XXI has prepared for the Gaudí Year with support from the Tarragona Provincial Council. “Sons de la terra” creates a coherent and evocative sound narrative, moving through different eras and musical languages.

The programme features works by Eduard Toldrà, Ricard Lamote de Grignon, Joan Magrané, and Manuel Oltra. These composers have engaged with the country's musical tradition and soundscape from various perspectives. The Orquestra Simfònica Camerata XXI will perform under the direction of Daniel Montané, with pianist Daniel Blanch, mezzo-soprano Marta Valero, and baritone Lluís Calvet.

Collaborative Choral Performance

The Cor Ciutat de Tarragona, directed by Xavier Pastrana, will participate as the lead choir, alongside the Cantem! participatory choir. The Cantem! project, driven by Camerata XXI, brings together singers from the Camp de Tarragona region and various local choral groups. This initiative highlights collaborative work and the region's choral network. Through these concerts, Camerata XXI reaffirms its dedication to promoting Catalan musical heritage, contemporary creation, and shared cultural projects that link community, region, and music.

The concert begins with the Interlude from Lionor o La filla del marxant by Eduard Toldrà. This piece draws directly from popular song and Modernist sensibility. First performed in 1934 by the Orquestra Pau Casals, conducted by Toldrà himself, the work opens the programme, bridging memory and creation and evoking the expressive power of Catalan musical tradition. The first half concludes with Ricard Lamote de Grignon's Tríptic de la pell de brau (Triptych of the Bull's Hide) for piano and orchestra. This composition transforms Iberian landscapes and songs into a rich and expressive sound structure. Premiered at the Palau de la Música Catalana in 1959, the piece is a significant milestone in 20th-century Catalan symphonic repertoire.

New Works and Poetic Closures

After an interval, the programme moves to the present with the premiere of Tres polifonies per a Antoni Gaudí (Three Polyphonies for Antoni Gaudí) by Joan Magrané, written for chamber orchestra. This work engages with Gaudí's universe through three movements. These combine references to the Renaissance, with motets by Jacob Clemens non Papa and Josquin Desprez, and contemporary symbolic elements. These include the transmutation of Gaudí's initials into musical notes and an evocation of the Wagnerian bells from Parsifal.

The concert ends with the choral symphonic poem La serra (The Mountain Range) by Manuel Oltra, inspired by texts from Joan Alcover, whose centenary of death is being commemorated. The work paints a lyrical soundscape that evokes the Serra de Tramuntana and the close relationship between humans and nature.

Performance Dates and Support

The performances are scheduled as follows:

  • Reus: Teatre Fortuny, Saturday, 23 May, at 20:30. Organised by Camerata XXI and Associació Joan Manén, with support from Tarragona Provincial Council, Generalitat de Catalunya (ICEC), Reus City Council, Reus Cultura, and FCEC. Collaborators include Consorci Fortuny, Conservatori Vila-seca, and Centre Parroquial Crist Rei.
  • Barcelona: Palau de la Música Catalana, Tuesday, 26 May, at 19:00. Organised by Associació Amics de la Música de Valls and Palau de la Música Catalana.
  • Valls: Centre Cultural Municipal, Wednesday, 27 May, at 20:00. Organised by Associació Amics de la Música de Valls, Camerata XXI, and Associació Joan Manén. Supported by Tarragona Provincial Council, Generalitat de Catalunya (ICEC), Valls City Council, Valls Cultura, and FCEC. Collaborators include Conservatori Vila-seca and Centre Parroquial Crist Rei. Participating choirs include Cor Ciutat de Tarragona, Cor Mestral, Cor l’Aubadera, Cor Verge del Camí, Cor Hospital, Cor Escola de Música de Móra d'Ebre, and members from over 20 choirs from the Camp de Tarragona.