Palau de la musica catalana: Concerts de música clàssica i coral

Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona

The concert hall is a masterpiece by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner – alongside Antoni Gaudí one of the most important representatives of modernism. The concert hall of the music palace is impressive.

The builder of the Palau de la Música was the Catalan choir association “Orfeó Català”, founded in 1891. Construction began in 1905 and the Music Palace was inaugurated in 1908.

The Palau de la Música Catalana has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997. The concert hall is one of the most beautiful in the world.

Tickets to enter the Palau

Tickets for Palau de la Música: Self-Guided Visit

  • Explore the Palau on your own: You can move around freely and listen to the explanations and music of the audio guide or take in the impressive interior of the Palau.
  • Admission to the Palau de la Música Catalana
  • Audio guide to download to your smartphone with explanations, images, music and videos (QR code provided on site)
  • Audio guide in Englisch, French, Spanish, Catalan
  • Ticket also on the smartphone
  • Immediate ticket delivery
  • Duration: approx. 50 minutes

Information & booking

Tickets for Palau de la Música Guided Tour: Skip The Line

  • Admire Lluís Domènech i Montaner’s detailed Art Nouveau masterpiece
  • During the tour, the guide will tell you interesting and exciting things about the Palau. You can also ask questions here.
  • Live guide in English, French, Spanish, Italian
  • Admission to the Palau de la Música Catalana
  • Ticket also on the smartphone
  • Immediate ticket delivery
  • Duration: approx. 55 minutes

Information & booking

The Palau de la Musica Catalana

The rapid development of Catalonia towards the end of the 19th century produced a well-to-do bourgeoisie that was looking for new forms of self-expression. Modernisme became an essential means of expression for this aspiring bourgeoisie.

The central element of Modernisme is the merging of different art forms – such as sculpture, blacksmithing, ceramics and glass art – as well as different architectural styles. This can be clearly seen in many places in the Palau de la Música.

The architect of the Palau de la Música was Lluís Domènech i Montaner, the founder and one of the most important representatives of Modernisme. At that time he was the most renowned architect in Barcelona.

The “Orfeó Català”, an amateur music society founded in 1891, was very popular in Barcelona around the turn of the century. They wanted to create a special setting for their own performances and those of other artists. Money for the construction came from donations from wealthy merchants and industrialists, and none other than the star architect Domènech i Montaner was hired.

Construction began in 1905 and the inauguration in 1908.

According to Lluís Domènech i Montaner, the Palau de la Música Catalana should be a “garden for music”. It is worth immersing yourself in its “musical garden” and being enchanted by the wealth of detail in this extraordinary building.

In the 1980s, the Palau de la Música Catalana was remodeled and modernized under the direction of architect Óscar Tusquets, without losing its original charm.

The facade

The facade is richly adorned with mosaic pillars, each one with a different floral design. Busts of great masters such as Beethoven, Bach and Wagner bear witness to the prevailing taste in music at the time. On one corner is a sculpture dedicated to the Catalan folk song and ruled by the patron saint of Catalonia, Sant Jordi. Elements from the Gothic and Moorish architectural styles have also been incorporated into the design of the facade.

Big concert hall

One of the most distinctive concert halls in the world – the Concert Auditorium – has been the privileged setting for national and international musical life in the city of Barcelona for more than a hundred years.

The stage is dominated by an organ, which can be heard again after a restoration in 2004. The auditorium is a mystical and paradoxical hall full of characters like the 16 muses surrounding the stage playing different musical instruments from different countries and regions. They symbolize the different styles of music and embody the spirit of the Palau de la Música Catalana – a performance venue where every genre of music should find its place.

To the left and right of the stage are two other imposing sculptures, a bust of Anselm Clavé on one side and a bust of Beethoven on the other. These symbolize folk and classical music.

A lot of glass makes the music palace very bright and gives it a very special atmosphere. Light shines through stained glass windows and a central skylight, a downward-curving, glass and colorful dome symbolizing the sun.
The auditorium is filled with natural light.

The decorative elements made of ceramics with natural forms are also typical of Modernisme: a number of natural motifs such as flowers, palm trees or fruits adorn the room.

Rehearsal room of the Orfeó Català

The little jewel of the Palau de la Música is the Sala d’Assaig de l’Orfeó Català, the rehearsal room of the Orfeó Català. A cosy, intimate place for concerts, lectures, small-scale presentations – and of course the place where the Orfeó Català choirs practice. The foundation stone of the Palau de la Música was also laid here. The hall has sturdy columns, stained glass and a decoration typical of Catalan modernism.

Petit Palau

Another venue that the Palau has is the Petit Palau: a modern auditorium that opened in 2004 and is ideal for chamber music or small-scale concerts. It has excellent acoustics and high-tech audiovisual equipment.

Lluís Millet Room

Another very special part of the Palau is the Sala Lluís Millet, a meeting place during breaks dedicated to Maestro Millet, founder of the Orfeó Català. The hall is two stories high, with large stained glass windows decorated with floral designs, creating an extraordinary effect. Even more extraordinary is the balcony seen through these windows, with its double colonnade decorated with distinctive colors and ornaments.

Foyer

Another exceptional place is the foyer of the Palau, which can accommodate a large number of people both during performances and as a separate restaurant-cafeteria. The wide arches of brick and green ceramics glazed with floral patterns give this area a distinctive atmosphere.

What music is played

Which music genres are played in the Palau de la Música is easy to answer: “Every kind of music is played in the Palau de la Música – except operas, because these are shown in the Gran Teatre del Liceu”. This is how visitors experience it during a guided tour. However, this statement is not 100% correct: it does happen that an opera is on the program, but very rarely.

The program for the 2022/23 season includes, for example, flamenco, classical music during the “Bachcelona” festival, Mozart’s Requiem with the Orfeó Català choir, classical during the Mozart festival, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, music by Hans Zimmer & John Williams, Spanish guitar music , Ballet Swan Lake, Jazz, Abba Tribute, Pop Music, Beatles+Queen+ABBA, Haydn, Beethoven & Widmann – played by Anne-Sophie Mutter and much more.
World-famous artists, but also unknown talents perform here.

Why a visit to the Palau de la Música is worthwhile

The building is simply impressive and imposing. This is where Modernisme shows itself from its most beautiful side, the Palau is truly one of the most beautiful works of Catalan Art Nouveau. Treat yourself to a short break in the foyer of the concert hall. The cafe is quite cozy and nice.

Palau de la Música Catalana is one of the very best things to do in Barcelona

Type: Cultural Venues, Sightseeing

10Best Says

This modern palace features kaleidoscopic colors in tile, sculpture, stained glass and mosaics. Originally built as a home for the Choral Society, it now hosts musical concerts and is a gorgeous forum…  Read More

This modern palace features kaleidoscopic colors in tile, sculpture, stained glass and mosaics. Originally built as a home for the Choral Society, it now hosts musical concerts and is a gorgeous forum to watch live bands and classical concerts. If you’re able to experience a concert in this gorgeous music hall, then definitely do it! Palau De La Musica is a modernist masterpiece, designed between 1905-1908 by architect, Lluís Doménech i Montaner. This is the best place to watch a concert, even if you’re not into the music itself, the design and ambiance provide for a truly unforgettable and fascinating experience.

Address:

Carrer de Sant Pere Més Alt
Barcelona, 08003

Phone:

93-268-1000

Website:

palaumusica.cat

Sam Mednick
Barcelona Local Expert

  • Romantic Things to Do: “Try to catch a concert inside the Palau during your visit. “
  • Sightseeing: “Try to catch a concert inside the Palau during your visit”
  • Best Attractions & Activities: “Be sure to take a guided tour with one of their professional guides”
  • Historic Sites: “Tickets can be bought online so check the schedule for upcoming concerts.”
  • Best for Romantic Things to Do Because: The most romantic concert hall in Barcelona to enjoy music.
  • Best for Sightseeing Because: The most gorgeous concert hall in the city with stunning architectural designs inside and out
  • Recommended as Best Attractions & Activities Because: The most gorgeous concert hall to listen to music
  • Best for Historic Sites Because: The most beautiful, Modernist concert hall in Barcelona, definitely worth catching a show while in town

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Palace of Catalan Music in Barcelona.

Spain in Russian

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Tourism

Palace of Catalan Music in Barcelona – Palau de la Música Catalana – is one of the symbols of the capital of Catalonia. It was designed and built by the well-known Barcelona architect Luis Domènech i Montaner. Construction took three years (1905-1908) and was financed mainly by donations. In the period from 1982 to 1989, a large-scale reconstruction of the building was carried out, which was supervised by the architect Oskar Tuskets.

Facts

  • For this project, the architect Luis Domènech was awarded by the Barcelona City Council and the building itself was recognized as the best building of the year.
  • The Palace of Music was conceived as a concert hall for the Orfeo Catalá choir, but soon after its opening it became the main concert hall in Barcelona.
  • The Palace of Catalan Music is a unique architectural structure: it is the only concert hall in Europe with natural light.
  • It can accommodate 2200 spectators.
  • In 1971 the Palace was declared a national monument of Spain.
  • In 1997, UNESCO inscribed the Palace of Catalan Music in Barcelona on the World Heritage List.
  • In 2009, the name of the Palace of Catalan Music in Barcelona thundered throughout Europe, but not at all in connection with any cultural event. The managers of the Palace of Music Foundation, which dealt with its financial matters, were held liable for embezzlement in the amount of about 34 million euros. This case became the biggest corruption scandal in the European cultural world.
  • At one time, celebrities from all over the world shone here, including Svyatoslav Richter, Rostislav Rostropovich and Montserrat Caballe.

Initially, only classical music concerts and choir performances were to take place here. However, now the Palace also hosts chamber concerts, where you can hear performances by Spanish pop and jazz stars. The palace has become a center for many cultural exhibitions and political conferences.

Guided tours and tickets to the Palace of Catalan Music

The Palace of Catalan Music is currently open to all Barcelona tourists. In addition to concerts, excursions are organized here for everyone. You can only get into the palace with a guided tour.

  1. Tours run in groups of up to 55 people every 30 minutes.
  2. Tour length – 55 minutes.
  3. Languages: Spanish, English, French, Catalan
  4. Tickets can be bought at the box office at the palace or on the website – http://www.palaumusica.cat
  5. The cost of a full ticket is 18 euros (children under 10 free).

Discounts on excursions can be obtained:

  • students, pensioners and the unemployed – the ticket price is 11 euros.
  • families 4-8 people – ticket price is 50 euros.
  • on the first and last Wednesday of each month the price is 9 euros (12:30-13:30 in Spanish and Cat. languages).
  • Barcelona Tourist bus Barcelona Card holders, members of walking tours and modernist tours, and groups of up to 25 people – 20% discount.

Poster Palau de la Musica – http://www.palaumusica.cat/en/programme_314

Students, people under 30 and people with a disability of at least 33% can get discounts on concerts.

Discounts are not cumulative.

Ticket office opening hours of the Palace of Catalan Music

9:30 am to 3:30 pm – September to June

9:30 am to 6:00 pm – July and August

Architecture

The main façade of the building organically incorporates classical elements of Spanish and Arabic architecture. Curved curved lines prevail over straight ones, which is traditional for the style of Catalan modernism. On the facade are busts of Pierluigi da Palestrina, Bach, Beethoven and Wagner. Mosaic is actively used. Until 1989, the main entrance was located here.

The pearl of the Palace of Catalan Music is its concert hall. The ceiling in the hall is an inverted dome made of colored glass mosaics. The colors of the mosaic are chosen in such a way that the viewers have the effect of being under the open sky. In the center of the dome, the golden mosaic represents the Sun, while the blue hues used around it represent the sky. The walls of the hall also consist of stained glass windows. The hall is decorated with sculptural compositions depicting Wagner’s Valkyries, Greek muses and Pegasi, there are busts of composers Bechtoven and Clave, the founder of the choral movement in Spain.

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Tags:
spain, barcelona, ​​music, excursions, concert, architecture, modernism, excursions in barcelona, ​​concerts in barcelona, ​​excursion on your own

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