Last January, the Coral Cantiga and the Cobla Sant Jordi - Ciutat de Barcelona jointly recorded the repertoire of works for choir and cobla by Manuel Oltra, a composer who died in 2015 in the Catalan capital. His speciality was specifically compositions for choir and cobla, which were not recorded solely in the aforementioned work. The recording - an initiative from Músics per la Cobla - gave rise to this three-part concert, which brings to the stage the works recorded a few months ago, along with other pieces. The show will begin with a performance by the Coral Cantiga, accompanied on piano by Víctor Valls and on clarinet by Montserrat Margalef. The choir will perform arrangements of popular songs by Josep Ollé. We will then listen to songs from the repertoire of the Cobla Sant Jordi and, finally, we will hear both groups perform Oltra's repertoire together, among other songs. The concert by the Coral Cantiga and the Cobla Sant Jordi also includes some new pieces, including a new work by the composer Carlota Baldrís and another by Lluís Gual, a young and promising composer. We will also enjoy Albert Cuinovart’s revival of an arrangement for choir and cobla of one of his works.
The protagonists are the Coral Cantiga, a cultural institution founded in 1961 in the Lluïsos de Gràcia and currently directed by Montserrat Meneses. With a repertoire that includes a cappella works and many symphonic-choral pieces from all periods and styles, the ensemble has created poetic and musical performances that, like this one, combine diverse arts: from choral and instrumental music, to theatre, poetry and dance. The instrumental performance is given by the Cobla San Jorge - Ciutat de Barcelona, which was founded in 1983. It includes some of today's best instrumentalists, has been conducted by renowned musicians (from Josep Pons and Salvador Brotons to Joan Albert Amargós, among many others) and, in addition to sardanas, it includes both classical and contemporary composers in its repertoire. It has been involved in sound fusion experiments with many artists on the current scene (from Pascal Comelade and Carme Canela to Kepa Junkera and Roger Mas) and has participated in dance performances.
A production from Cobla Sant Jordi Ciutat de Barcelona and Coral Cantiga.
Music direction and direction of the Coral Cantiga: Montserrat Meneses. Music performed by: Cor Cantiga, Cobla Sant Jordi - Ciutat de Barcelona, Montserrat Margalef (clarinet), Víctor Valls (piano).
