The UAB to participate in the opening of the Garraf opera in Palau Güell

The UAB Chamber Choir, directed by Poire Vallvé, will be performing on 18 and 21 December in the first representation of the 3rd act of the opera Garraf at the Palau Güell. Under the musical coordination and direction of lecturer Francesc Cortès, the performance will mark the end of the Güell Year 2018. The performance of the Garraf opera was only interpreted once, in 1917, at the Palau de la Música.

11/12/2018

The Garraf opera, of which no recording exists, was composed by Josep Garcia Robles (music) and Ramon Picó i Campanar (booklet) and dedicated to Eusebi Güell, their artistic patron. The first and second act of the opera was performed at the Palau Güell, but the third act was never interpreted. Now, the piece will be performed by the UAB Chamber Choir and will mark the end of the Güell Year 2018, commemorating 100 years since the death of this Catalan politician, businessman and patron, who also commissioned many building to Antoni Gaudí.

“This score escapes from the influences of Wagner and Puccini, who at the beginning of the last century were Barcelona's two favourite composers”, explains Francesc Cortès, lecturer at the Department of Art and Musicology at the UAB, and also musical coordinator and director of the performance at the Palau Güell. “The opera combines mythological allegories with references to the landscape of the Garraf and Falconera's cave. When it was performed at the Palau de la Música, the third act was considered to be the most inspiring by the press. Its heroic poetry is coupled with valiant and dramatic music and we will be able to enjoy it now, one hundred years after it was created", the musicologist points out.

Performances will take place on 18 and 21 December and the second performance will be open to the public.

http://www.palauguell.cat/opera-garraf-mes-enlla-del-paisatge-i-el-mite