Lloret de Mar is hosting its 58th Sardana Gathering this weekend, from 2 to 3 May, at Plaça de la Vila. The event also marks the centenary of the town's 'Summer Sardanes' cycle, a significant cultural milestone, according to local officials.
The gathering includes performances by four coblas: Ciutat de Girona, Principal del Llobregat, Flama de Farners, and Principal de La Bisbal. These groups will play traditional Catalan sardana music for attendees over two days.
Weekend Programme Highlights
On Saturday, 2 May, the Teatre de Lloret will host a concert by cobla Ciutat de Girona at 7pm. The first part of the concert will feature sardanes dedicated to Lloret de Mar, honouring the 'Summer Sardanes' centenary. The second part will pay tribute to Pau Casals, marking the 150th anniversary of his birth.
Sunday, 3 May, will see further performances at Plaça de la Vila. Coblas Ciutat de Girona, Principal del Llobregat, and Flama de Farners will perform in the morning, starting at 10:30am. Principal de La Bisbal will take the stage in the afternoon at 4pm. Additionally, the Puntaires de Lloret will present a lace-making exhibition throughout Sunday morning.
Commemorating a Century of Sardanes
Vereda López, the Councillor for Culture, highlighted the importance of this year's gathering. "This is the 58th edition of the Sardana Gathering, and naturally, this year we will emphasise reaching the centenary of the 'Summer Sardanes' cycle," López said. She also mentioned plans for a commemorative concert on 20 June at the Santa Clotilde Gardens amphitheatre, featuring cobla Montgrins and the premiere of a new sardana by maestro Xavier Albertí.
The 100th season of 'Summer Sardanes' will comprise eleven audicions, or performances. This special season will begin with the commemorative concert on 20 June at 8:30pm, where Xavier Albertí's new sardana, titled 'Cent Anys de Sardanes a Lloret' (One Hundred Years of Sardanes in Lloret), will debut.
Subsequent audicions will take place at 10pm in Plaça de la Vila throughout the summer, concluding on 5 September with a performance by Principal del Llobregat. Other coblas scheduled to perform include Ciutat de Girona, Principal de La Bisbal, Flama, Vila de la Jonquera, Sant Jordi – Ciutat de Barcelona, Mediterrània, Jovenívola de Sabadell, and Bisbal Jove.
