After my first experiences writing for you in Ciao, and reading some diamond reviews, I've decided to start a serie of reviews about the city I'm living right now... Barcelona....
The serie is called Barceloning... from the verbe "To Barcelona" that means, enjoying one of world's amazing cities.
Today I'm starting with maybe one of the greatest places in Barcelona: "El Palau de la Musica Catalana" (Catalonian Music Palace).
In order to do that today we will have an interview with the famous historian Mr. McQuest, who will answer to all of our questions...
Mr. McQuest, where is the Palau?
MQ: The Palau is placed at "Carrer (Street in Catalá) de Sant Francesc de Paula, 2" Near to the Via Laietana. in the Barri Gotic.
How can we get there?
MQ: Let's see, by Metro, the closest station is: Urquinaona, if you decide to make a walking tour in the Barri Gotic, it's close to "Plaza Urquinaona", and at 10 minutes walking of "Plaza Catalunya" there is a stop of the "Bus Turistic" if you are using this service. And the following Buses 17, 19, 40 and 45, remember to ask for the correct stop to the driver.
Any other tips?
Also you can ask anyone, be sure that the other person speaks English or you will need at least 15 minutes in order to make you understand, but in order to help you, try to remember this questions:
- ¿Cómo puedo llegar al Palau de la Música? (How I can get to Palau de la Musica).
- ¿Puede hablarme más lento? (Can you speak to me slower?)
- ¿Puede señalarme el camino? (Can you indicate me the road?)
Well, we are there, now what?
MQ: First of all you will enter via Sant Francesc de Paula you will enjoy of a beautiful modernist facade, so prepare your cameras, because you will need at least 100 megas...
A little bit of history, it was constructed from 1905 to 1908, inaugurated February 9th of that year, the Architect was Lluís Domènech i Montaner. In 1997 it was declared a "World Heritage Site" by UNESCO.
About the architect, was one of the researchers for the "National Architecture" that afterwards, was globally known as "Modernism" with Gaudí at the front. His buildings are a mix of constructive rationalism and fabulous adornment inspired in the arabic architecture.
About the building, "El Palau" is the seat of the "Orfeó Catalá" institution created in order to defend the values or the Catalonian Culture. That's why the decoration includes various representations of the yellow and red bars, (symbol of Catalonia).
What about architecture?
The architecture is very symbolic, a representation of the catala's pride. since the facade, where you will admire a series of modernist columns, with the personal style of Domenech, the sculptures are very surprising, because when you look at them you feel a liberty sensation. It's constructed with seen brick and decorated with Lluís Brú's mosaics, but you can't pass without admiring Miquel Blay's sculpture tribute to the Popular Music.
After you enter you will be in an spacious lobby with stairs of marble that will take you to the concert hall, this is a place of details, every single space, has it's own magic and beauty, don't try to rush the moment, enjoy it, when you move and see one point that you looked before, you'll see a new angle, new colors, it's part of the modernism the amazing use of lightness, natural and artificial in the decoration.
The concert hall is a complete sculpture itself, at the top you will admire a 3d concave cupola of painted glass, that creates a movement sensation while you are walking inside. The stage front is amazing at the sides you will apreciate the sculptures of Pau Gargallo and Dídac Massana, representing the "Cavalcade of the Valkirias" at one side, and "Beethoven" at the other, the stage contains various sculptures in high relief, that represent the Music musas. Another amazing detail.
Which are the principal installations of "El Palau"?
MQ. El Palau has two kind of installations:
The Modernist spaces and the New Spaces.
The Modernists are composed by the Concer Hall, the facade, the lobby, "Foyer Hall", space used for special events, "Sala Luis Millet", the resting space, very simple, its most characteristic element is the large stained glass window, which looks out onto the balcony colonnade of the main facade. And the "Chamber Hall", the rehearsal space of El Palau, and excellent for small presentations.
And which are the New Spaces?
MQ. Well the New Spaces are the "Petit Palau" (Small Palau) inaugurated in February of 2004, auditorium with 538 seats. The "Segle XXI Area" (21st. Century Area) various auditoriums special for meetings, presentation, press conferences, and social events. The Rehearsal Room, its name says it all. Palau's Square, Surrounded by the facades, it's directly connected with El Foyer.
New Paragraph for El Mirador, Palau's Restaurant, with very modernist decoration, with a view to the Palau's Square, and place where you can eat "Author's cuisine", while you are still enjoying the finale of Carmina Burana.
And about the concerts?
MQ. El Palau is a very amazing place for concerts, here I give you the July season, in order to plan a visit while you are in Barcelona:
Friday , 14 of July of 2.006, 19:30 h SALA DE CONCERTS 'LOS CHICOS DEL CORO' CORAL DE ST. MARC
Friday , 14 of July of 2.006, 22:00 h SALA DE CONCERTS 'LOS CHICOS DEL CORO' CORAL DE ST. MARC
Saturday , 15 of July of 2.006, 22:00 h SALA DE CONCERTS ISABEL PANTOJA
Sunday , 16 of July of 2.006, 20:00 h SALA DE CONCERTS ISABEL PANTOJA
Wednesday, 19 of July of 2.006, 21:30 h SALA DE CONCERTS DE CAJÓN! FESTIVAL FLAMENCO DE BARCELONA ESTRELLA MORENTE Organitza: THE PROJECT Venda d'entrades TEL·ENTRADA Telèfon 902 10 12 12 www.telentrada.com
Tuesday , 25 of July of 2.006, 21:30 h SALA DE CONCERTS FESTIVAL MAS I MAS Mc COY TYNER SEPTET
Wednesday, 26 of July of 2.006, 21:30 h SALA DE CONCERTS FESTIVAL MAS I MAS OMARA PORTUONDO
Thursday , 27 of July of 2.006, 21:30 h SALA DE CONCERTS FESTIVAL MAS I MAS ROY HARGROVE QUINTET
Friday , 28 of July of 2.006, 21:30 h SALA DE CONCERTS FESTIVAL MAS I MAS "MOLINA" ALBA Y MANUEL
Monday , 31 of July of 2.006, 22:00 h SALA DE CONCERTS ORQUESTRA SIMFÒNICA DEL SEGLE XXI JORDI MORA, director WAGNER: Els Mestres Cantaires de Nurenberg TCHAIKOVSKI: Romeo i Julieta BRAHMS: Simfonia en Fa major, op. 90 Organitza: ORQUESTRA SIMFÒNICA DEL SEGLE XXI
Remember to see the pages, there are more information of the 2006-2007 season at www.servicaixa.es.
And can we visit the Palau anytime?
MQ. Well... YES, There are guided visits, From Monday to Sunday: from 10 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. every half hour. The Duration in order to plan it is about 50 minutes. there are visits in English or Spanish if you want to practice, the price is 8€. for groups of at least 25 people, students or pensioners 7€
Some recomendations about the visits Photographs and film recordings are not permitted, so sometimes is better to go to a concert.
Well that's it for today, I'll continue soon.
Regards
More details
Is it worth visiting?
Excellent
Family Friendly
Good
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