Classical on the Beach: Barcelona orchestras offer two free concerts

Sun, sand and ... symphony orchestras? 

It's not the first thing you think of when you picture the Barcelona seafront, but on June 20 and 21 the city's two major orchestras will be offering free concerts on Bogatell beach. 

Three of Barcelona major classical music venues – the Liceu opera house, the Auditori, and the Palau de la Música – are behind the Clàssica a la platja (Classical on the Beach) initiative, which also includes performances from the Orfeó Català choirs at nearby community venues on June 19. 

On Tuesday, June 20, the Liceu Orchestra will perform Ravel's 'Boléro' and Dvořák's 'New World Symphony' under the direction of Josep Pons. 

The following day, coinciding with Music Day, it will be the turn of the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra and National Orchestra of Catalonia (OBC). 

Under the direction of principal conductor Ludovic Morlot, they will perform Dvorák's 'Slavonic Dances', Smetana's 'Vltava' from 'Má vlast', Rimsky-Korsakov's 'Capriccio espagnol' and Bizet's 'L'Arlésienne Suite No.2 'Farandole''. 'Empúries (Invocation to Empordà)' by the Catalan composer Eduard Toldrà will complete the program. 

The concerts on the beach, open to everyone, will take place on a stage 20 meters wide by 16 meters deep, big enough to accommodate the 73 musicians of the Liceu Symphony Orchestra and the OBC's 80 players. 

"Barcelona is Primavera Sound, Sónar, Cruïlla, the concerts over the last few weeks at Montjuïc, but it is classical too," said Valentí Oviedo, managing director of the Gran Teatre del Liceu. 

Choral performances

The female voices of the Orfeó Català's chamber choir under the direction of Maria Guinand will offer a program focused on South American music in Hospital del Mar on June 19 at 12 noon, a free performance open to patients and hospital staff.   

The Cor Petits, a choir of boys and girls aged 6-7, will perform and offer a workshop at the Almogàvers Ballesol old folks' home on June 19 at 6pm. Before the performance, children and residents will learn a song together. 

The same format will be followed by the singers of Cor Mitjans (aged 8-10), who will perform and hold a workshop at the Amavir Diagonal old folks' home at 5.30pm.