The 26th Castell de Peralada Festival ends with more than 20,000 attendees and 84% of tickets sold

Peralada (ACN).– The 26^th Castell de Peralada Festival has drawn to a close after a month of performances, including three world debuts and one first performance in Europe. More than 800 people from different companies, orchestras, technical teams and artists were involved in 19 performances from the June 17^th until August 22^nd, which took place in the castle and gardens of Peralada, in the northern Costa Brava (in the North Empordà County) The management is pleased with this year’s results. More than 20,000 people attended at least one of the events, with 84% of available tickets sold. Now that the 26^th Castell de Peralada Festival has ended, the organisers are preparing the itinerary for next year, which includes a performance by the soprano Sonda Radvanosky, singing ‘Norma’.

The festival started with two acclaimed artists, Joan Manuel Serrat and Joaquín Sabina, who performed ‘Dos pájaros contraatacan’. However, the official opening act was the opera ‘Il Trovatore’ by Verdi, which was the Spanish debut of the soprano Angela Meade, a star from Metropolitan Opera in New York.  The 2012 festival had many stellar artists in attendance such as Mexican Ramón Vargas, the tenor Jonas Kaufmann, Sara Baras with ‘La Pepa’, Melody Gardot, the famous pianist Harry Connick Jr., Omara Portuondo and Dionne Warwick, who chose to take to the North-Empordà stage to celebrate her 50 year career.

In total more than 800 people from different companies, orchestras, technical teams and artists were involved in 19 performances from June 17^th until August 22^nd. This year the festival strengthened its international audience with a strong French presence as well as British, German, Italian and American attendees. More than 20,000 people enjoyed the shows offered this year, with 84% of available tickets sold.

According to the festival, more than 50 media organisations, including magazines, agencies, radio stations and television companies have covered the performances. In addition the festival organised meetings with various authors in collaboration with the Ramon Llull Summer University. Participants were able to meet international figures such as the playwright Roland Schwab or author Donna Leon, one of the most popular crime fiction writers.

Opera, music and dance are the three themes of the Castell de Peralada Festival. From the very beginning, the organisers have had clear goal to promote opera and dance as a distinctive feature and to set it apart from other Catalan summer festivals. This focus will continue in future events, as the management has announced the 27^th festival next year. The first show confirmed is the soprano Sondra Radvanovsky’s, who will sing ‘Norma’. The festival will also commemorate the bicentenary of the composers Verdi and Wagner next year.