The long tradition of music festivals

Pau Casals, Manuel de Falla and Isaac Albéniz are some of the great figures who have left their mark on the Costa Brava. However, one of the first music festival organisers was Josep Ensesa, who opened the doors and gardens of Senya Blanca, his house in S’Agaró, to music lovers in 1956 with a series of concerts christened the Mozart Festival. The success of this festival led other Costa Brava towns to host similar events and nowadays almost all the towns on the Costa Brava hold annual musical events.

Music forms part of the character of many towns and of the several events held by them over the course of the year. However, it is in the summer when emblematic venues such as gardens, covered squares, cloisters, monasteries or waterside venues host internationally renowned musical and cultural events. These summer events showcase all kinds of music, including classical music, pop and rock, havaneres (colonial sea shanties) and Catalan sardana music.

The Centenary has therefore been keen to include music in its programme of celebrations and has organised “The Musical Nights of the Centenary” for the summer of 2009. The Patronat de Turisme Girona Costa Brava and music festival organisers have wished to pay their particular tribute to the Costa Brava by dedicating one night of their respective schedules to raising its profile. As such, the Banyoles (a)phònica Festival, the Havaneres (colonial sea shanties) Concert in Calella de Palafrugell, the Girona Religious and World Music Festival, the Porta Ferrada International Festival in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, the International Music Festival of Cadaqués, the Cap Roig Gardens Festival, the Costa Brava Sardana Concert in Palamós, the Torroella de Montgrí International Music Festival, the Sant Pere de Rodes Music Festival, the Schubertíada in Vilabertran and the Figueres Acoustic Festival all form part of the Musical Nights.

 

More information

“Visions of the Mediterranean” concert

Article by Josep Castelló: Excerpt from a chapter of the book Authentic Costa Brava, published by Pagès Editors.