La Santa Espina, interpreted in its entirety by the Orquestra Simfònica del Vallès
The concert will take place on the 15th of March in the Barcelona Teatre Musical as part of the celebrations for the city’s designation as the 2014 “Sardana” capital
La Santa Espina is probably the most emblematic of all the Sardanas that are danced-to, listened-to and interpreted in Catalonia. With music by Enric Morera and libretto by Àngel Guimerà, the Sardana is part of the homonymous Zarzuela, or Spanish lyrical drama, and was first represented in 1907 in the Teatre Principal de Barcelona. Owing to its identification with Catalan populist values it was prohibited during the dictatorships of Primo de Rivera and Franco.
Now, over a hundred years after its popularisation, La Santa Espina gets a new lease of life as part of the events programmed in celebration of Barcelona’s designation as the 2014 Sardana capital. The piece has not been represented in its entirety in concert format since its debut, an oversight that has long been in need of redress, a redress that will take place on the 15th of March in the Barcelona Teatre Musical, when the Orquestra Simfònica del Vallès, conducted by Rubén Gimeno, will interpret the celebrated piece in a fantasy-style stage setting. Mezzo-soprano Anna Alàs, tenor David Alegret and baritone Enric Martínez-Castignani will interpret the three principal roles accompanied by the Coral Polifónica de Vilafranca.
Barcelona Cultural users may be eligible for invitations. More information here.