Resounding Success at the UAB Winter Concert

The traditional Winter Concert of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), held on December 11, exceeded all expectations, selling out for an event that, this year, went far beyond a simple musical proposal. The evening became a heartfelt tribute to Joan Casals i Clotet, the driving force and soul of the UAB Orchestra since its re-founding in 1997. The event began with a deeply emotional moment: Jesús Badia i Masgrau, co-director of the orchestra and director of the Department of Didactics of Musical, Visual and Physical Expression, read the concert’s dedication, recalling Casals’ multifaceted and prolific figure, his passion for music, and his pedagogical legacy. Casals’ passing on October 2 has left a significant void in the university community.

The UAB Choir, conducted by Poire Vallvé and accompanied by Maria Massana Arnaus on piano, opened the program with a sonic journey across cultures, landscapes, and emotions. The repertoire ranged from the jubilant Gaudete and traditional melodies from Turkey (Kâtibim), the Middle East (Yalla tnam), and North America (Shenandoah), to Catalan compositions.

The choir highlighted the expressiveness of the poetic and intimate thread of Catalan authors, with pieces such as Faig un traç by Poire Vallvé and the nostalgic habanera Vestida de nit, culminating in the energy of Quan tot s’enlaira by Txarango and the expressiveness of Cançó d’amor by Lluís Llach. This section featured soloists Marc Navau, Gal·la Altarriba, Oriol Navarro, Mireia Folch, Paula Martín and Aran Montserdà, along with violinist Magalí Torras.

Later, the UAB Orchestra, conducted by Jesús Badia i Masgrau, performed the first movement of Symphony No. 2, op. 36 by Ludwig van Beethoven. With this piece, possibly the largest and longest performed at the time, the orchestra showcased the dramatic and powerful character of the composer. The orchestral program also included the Minuet and Preghiera movements from Suite No. 4, op. 61 Mozartiana by P. I. Tchaikovsky, a clear homage by the Russian composer to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The highlight of the concert, bringing together choir and orchestra, was the performance of excerpts from the motet Jesu, meine Freude (BWV 227) by J. S. Bach. Weg mit allen Schätzen!, Gute Nacht, o Wesen and Weicht, ihr Trauergeister resonated with a special meaning dedicated to Casals. These pages by Bach became a profound and sincere tribute that closed the main part of the performance, recalling Casals’ mastery and his vision of music.

The photographs taken by the photographer Antoni Bofill are available at the following link.