Orfeó Català Joins New York Philharmonic in Paris
The Orfeó Català is performing with the New York Philharmonic under conductor Gustavo Dudamel at the Philharmonie de Paris, marking the start of a major European tour. The concert took place on Saturday 10 October 2026 and is part of a historic 10-concert series across six cities, the first European tour by the American orchestra in a decade. The Catalan choir, including members of the Cor de Noies and young singers from the Cor Infantil, is collaborating with the orchestra on John Adams' On the Transmigration of Souls, a piece dedicated to the victims of 9/11. This is the second time Dudamel has invited the Orfeó choirs to perform with him, following their successful collaboration in Los Angeles earlier in 2026.
Barcelona Return on 12 October
The tour continues in Barcelona on Monday 12 October 2026, when the New York Philharmonic and Orfeó Català choirs open the 11th season of BCN Clàssics at L’Auditori. It will be the orchestra’s first performance in Barcelona in over 16 years. The programme includes Prokofiev’s Symphony No 5. The concert is a co-production between L’Auditori and the Orfeó Català, and will be followed by performances in Madrid, Hamburg and Vienna. The tour marks Dudamel’s first European tour as artistic and musical director of the New York Philharmonic, a role he began in September 2026.
Culture Minister Hails Catalan Excellence
Sònia Hernández, the Catalan Minister of Culture, attended Saturday’s concert in Paris alongside Eva Doya, the Catalan government’s delegate in France. Hernández praised the international reach of Catalan culture, calling the Orfeó’s participation a "showcase of excellence" and evidence of the growing global recognition of Catalan choral traditions. "These choirs are vocational, as everyone knows, and they represent very well what Catalan culture is," she said.
These choirs are vocational, as everyone knows, and they represent very well what Catalan culture is.
Hernández noted that such international appearances are becoming increasingly common, reflecting the rising profile of Catalan artists abroad.
Maria del Mar Bonet Performs at Olympia
On Sunday 11 October 2026, Catalan singer Maria del Mar Bonet is scheduled to perform at the Olympia theatre in Paris. The Catalan government confirmed that both Hernández and Doya plan to attend the concert, underscoring the importance of cultural diplomacy. Bonet’s performance is part of a broader effort to promote Catalan music in France, one of the key countries for cultural outreach. The Olympia, a historic Parisian venue, has hosted the singer before, and this concert is expected to draw a large audience of Catalan and French cultural supporters.
Primary sources: agenda.cultura.gencat.cat, govern.cat. Reported by europapress.es, Europa Press, lavanguardia.com, palaumusica.cat, elnacional.com, panorama.onl, paris.fr, olympiahall.com, leparisien.fr, monfestival.fr, by-night.fr, Europa Press Barcelona.
