Dvorák at the Auditori in Barcelona

The Auditori in Barcelona has organized concerts of Dvorák (even though he’ll be accompanied by Brahms and Saint-Saëns) on the 27th, 28th and 29th of January at different times (11am, 7pm and 9pm) to adapt to all possible timetables. Under the direction of Jakub Hrusa, the Barcelona and Catalunya National Symphonic Orchestra (OBC) and the piano of Simo Trpcevski will perform the ‘Tragic Overture’ by Brahms, the ‘Concert for piano and orchestra number 2′ by Saint-Saëns and the ‘Number 8 Symphony’ by Dvorák. Both local and tourist music lovers can access the following website http://www.auditori.cat/ct/concert/13-lhimne-a-la-natura-de-dvorak-2122.aspx where they’ll find more practical details and, even, purchase the tickets online for any of the sessions of the event.

The czech musician Antonin Dvorák (1841-1904) composed ‘Symphony number 8′ in his summer villa of Vysoká, close to Prague, in 1880. Although it was eclipsed by the popularity and the fame of the next one, the ‘Ninth’ or ‘New World’, this composition hits all the romantic notes that Dvorák liked so much. And it’s not strange that the organizers accompany this symphonic piece with a composition by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), because both artists maintained a close friendship and a fruitful collaboration. Also from 1880 is the ‘Tragic Overture’, the piece that starts the concert at the Auditori in Barcelona and that has been interpreted in all sorts of ways due to its fiery and even fast character. Despite all of these readings, that are more or less accurate, Brahms imposed to all of his work a purely musical character without entering discourses that could be translated into literature. And, lastly, completing the programme we have the French composer, contemporary of the previous musicians, Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921), who progressively moved away from romanticism to fully enter impressionism through his work in the National Music Society.

The well-known ‘Concert for piano and orchestra number 2′ by Saint-Saëns was composed in 1868 and is dedicated to an enigmatic Madame A. de Villers, née de Haber, of which we know little or nothing of today.

The Auditori in Barcelona, open to the public since 1999, programmes season after season of music concerts of all types in its spectacular building designed by Rafael Moneo. We’ve allowed ourselves to point this one out because we’ve especially liked the programme. But the venue has a tight calendar with a varied offer: there are bands, old music, chamber music, choir music and, even, an abundant programme prepared and adapted to the younger ones. It’s, of course, an unavoidable reference in Barcelona’s cultural scene.

Candela Vizcaíno

The traveller who is in the Catalan capital during these dates and doesn’t want to miss these concerts, will also have had to book any of the excellent apartments in Barcelona in advance, where he can recover from the agitated cultural and artistic lifestyle of this beautiful Mediterranean city.

Contact Me 

Translated by: aleixgwilliam
Contact Me

Tags: Antonín Dvorák, Auditori Barcelona, Barcelona and Catalunya National Symphonic Orchestra, Camille Saint-Saëns, Jakub Hrusa, Johannes Brahms, Tragic Overture