German and French communities in Catalonia remember armistice

The German and the French communities in Catalonia are hosting joint several events to mark the centenary since the end of World War I.

On Sunday morning, both French and German embassies in Spain held a ceremony in the monument paying tribute to the French soldiers fallen in the First World War in Monjuïc cemetery, Barcelona.

Both the French and German consuls in the Catalan capital, Cyril Piquemal and Peter Rondorf, took part in the event, according to a French consulate official. The former French primer minister and candidate for Barcelona mayor Manuel Valls also attended the event. 

Concert

On Sunday evening, at 8pm, a concert at Palau de la Música concert hall is expected.

Students and teachers in the music school of the Liceu opera house will play some pieces by Granados, Debussy, Richard Strauss, Mahler, Ravel and Beethoven, including the ‘Ode to Joy’.

Debates

The French and German institutes in the city, Institut Français and Goethe Institut, also organized some debates and are showing some films to reflect about the past and the future of Europe.

On November 6 the debate ‘Who are we? Cultural diversities – culture without borders’ was held in Barcelona’s MACBA contemporary art museum, with several museum directors.

On November 8 another debate, titled ‘Where do we come from? 1918/2018, the heritage of a hope’, took place in CCCB (Center of Contemporary Culture) with two historians and a journalist.

Next Friday another one will be held in the University Pompeu Fabra (UPF) featuring students of Catalan, German and French speaking schools in Catalonia.

Films

Institut Français and Goethe Institut are showing several films and series throughout November, including ‘Nos années folles,’ ‘Capitaine Conan,’ ‘Paris 1919: un traité pour la paix,’ and ‘Berlin Alexanderplatz.’