Valls will host two concerts from the prestigious Jordi Savall Festival for the first time this August, with performances scheduled for 16 and 17 August at the historic Sant Francesc church.
The former church, currently undergoing restoration to become a contemporary art centre and music auditorium, will be one of four venues for the festival's fifth edition. This year's event, themed "Homage to Diversity", aims to highlight music's ability to connect people and cultures.
The festival, now in its fifth year, has become a significant European event for early music, historical interpretation, and intercultural dialogue. It features a programme of high-quality performances and activities, including around 15 concerts, educational events, conferences, an audiovisual exhibition, and new productions.
Persian and Iranian Music Performance
The first concert in Valls is set for Saturday, 16 August, at 12pm. It will feature four musicians exploring the ancient sounds of Persia and Iran. The line-up includes Iranian singer Mehdi Emami, kamancheh virtuoso Mostafa Taleb, tār master Saina Zamanian, and ûd player Tristan Driessens.
Their performance will combine original compositions and improvisations within the Iranian modal system. The programme blends traditional forms with ancient rhythms and poetic patterns, showcasing the expressive flexibility of this music. The quartet aims to create an intimate concert experience, fostering intercultural dialogue through the Persian musical tradition.
Bach and Scarlatti with the Hantaï Brothers
The second concert at Sant Francesc church will take place on Sunday, 17 August, at 7.30pm. It will feature Marc Hantaï on baroque flute and Pierre Hantaï on harpsichord, both internationally recognised musicians.
The brothers will perform works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Domenico Scarlatti, presenting sonatas filled with contrasts and emotion. Pierre Hantaï's harpsichord virtuosity will meet Marc Hantaï's flute artistry to explore the rich sounds of these pieces, blending Scarlatti's brilliance with Bach's structural depth. This concert marks one of the first steps for the restored Sant Francesc church as a new music auditorium for Valls.
Before this concert, at 6pm on 17 August, Nour Salameh will give a conference at the IEV assembly hall. Salameh is a human rights activist, holds a PhD in History from URV, and is a member of the UNESCO Chair for Intercultural Dialogue in the Mediterranean (UNESCOMED).
Festival Venues and Artists
The Jordi Savall Festival 2025 will run from 11 to 17 August. In addition to the Sant Francesc church in Valls, other venues include the Royal Monastery of Santes Creus, the Sant Francesc convent in Montblanc, and the Convent de les Arts in Alcover.
The festival will bring together prominent international musicians who have performed at major venues worldwide, such as the Berlin Philharmonie, Carnegie Hall in New York, the Salzburg Festival, Wigmore Hall in London, and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris. The full programme for the Jordi Savall Festival 2025 is available for consultation.
