Orfeó CatalÃ
Orfeó Català is a 1891 founded by Lluís Millet i Pagès and Amadeu Vives Folk Choir. He is the most important choir of Catalonia and has its seat since 1908 in the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona.
History and Significance
The Orfeó Català played a leading role in the musical world of Catalonia from the beginning. Its success led to the construction of the Palau de la Música Catalana, which was completed in 1908 and its owner, the Orfeó is today. Until the construction of the Auditorium of the Palau de la Música concert hall was the most significant in Barcelona.
The Orfeó Català was initially founded as a pure male voice choir. 1896 was extended by a women's choir, and shortly thereafter to a music school for children. In 1904 it founded the Revista Musical Catalana music magazine, which was published until 1936. Since 1984, she appears again, now sponsored by the Consortium of the Palau de la Música Catalana.
As an influential cultural institution in Catalonia the Orfeó Català during the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera was subject to severe repression. 1925 her all activities was temporarily prohibited.
Under the direction of eminent conductors such as Richard Strauss, Camille Saint- Saëns, Pau Casals, Antoni Ros- Marbà or Zubin Mehta, the choir celebrated successful performances in the musical centers of Europe and South America. The present choir conductor Josep Vila i Casañas.
1984 the Orfeó Català, the Creu de Sant Jordi awarded for services to the Catalan culture, the highest award of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
2009 Fèlix Millet Tusell, descendant of the founder of the palace and today the president, who was accused of embezzlement of several million euros. Renovations with an estimate of 9.6 million ended up in a total cost of 24 million euros.
Felix Mittet Tusell was considered as one of the most influential Catalan families. In the book L' oasi català Andreu Farràs and Pere Cullell the 100 Catalan families are described which share power in Catalonia, an idea that Millet commented as follows: " Somos unos Cuatrocientos y siempre somos los Mismos " ( " We are in our 400 and still we are the same "). The Orfeó Català and the Círculo del Liceo, and the Tribuna del FC Barcelona y La Caixa has always belonged to the venues of this Catalan elite.