Girona’s Auditori Palau de Congressos is marking its 20th anniversary this year, with a weekend programme that puts the city at the centre of the celebrations. Since opening on 27 May 2006, the venue has hosted nearly 2,400 concerts, more than 1,200 congresses and almost two million spectators, according to officials.
The anniversary events begin with flamenco singer Miguel Poveda, who returns to a project that has long been linked to the Auditori’s audience. He will perform Desglaç, the 2005 work that blended flamenco with Catalan poetry by Jacint Verdaguer, Maria Mercè Marçal, Gabriel Ferrater and Joan Margarit. The concert will also include a new musical setting of Si el món fos… by Joana Raspall, with Cor Geriona and the Cobla Ciutat de Girona joining him on stage.
Before Poveda’s concert, tightrope walker Mariona Moya, known as La Corcoles, will perform a 16-minute ascent of the Auditori building. The piece will be accompanied by live music from Xavi Lloses, on composition, synthesizers and soundscapes, and Adrià Grandia, on hurdy-gurdy, harmonic flutes and electronics. The same performance will be repeated on Saturday.
Saturday’s programme also includes the only Catalan concert by Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen. Described as one of today’s leading opera voices, she will present a programme of Franz Schubert’s Lieder, accompanied on piano by James Baillieu.
The anniversary weekend will close on Sunday with Ressò, a participatory concert designed as a shared community celebration. It will bring together artists and groups including Mazoni, Cala Vento, the Black Music Big Band, the Cor Messies Participatiu and cobla students from Girona’s Isaac Albéniz conservatory.
The Auditori says the programme reflects the venue’s role as a cultural and conference hub in Girona, while also looking ahead to its next stage. For more local arts coverage, see our news tag.