Generació C
“We can proudly say that we currently have the best generation of choral composers in the history of our country.”
— Xavier Puig, Director of the Palau Chamber Choir
A tribute to contemporary Catalan choral composers
The Palau de la Música Catalana Chamber Choir presents Generació C, a concert dedicated to contemporary Catalan choral creation, taking place on 9 November at the Petit Palau (5 pm) and repeated on 15 November at Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, as part of a week that the prestigious German venue is devoting to Catalan music.
The programme is a sound journey through the country’s choral history, from the great classics to new contemporary voices, featuring works that embrace both the choral heritage and the popular songbook reimagined by today’s creators.
The four Cs of the new generation
Generació C refers to four Cs: composers, choral, Catalan and contemporary.
A group of creators who share a commitment to choral music, a modern language rooted in the territory and a creative energy without precedent.
Among the concert’s featured artists are Bernat Vivancos, Josep Ollé, Joan Magrané, Josep Vila, Carles Prat and Anna Campmany — names that embody a generation in full artistic effervescence.
This project forms part of the Palau de la Música Catalana’s commitment this season to Catalan contemporary choral creation, with the aim of giving voice to its composers and placing their work at the heart of the choirs’ programming.
The programme: a journey through tradition and innovation
I. Roots: the Catalan choral heritage
- El cant de la senyera, by Lluís Millet
- L’emigrant, by Amadeu Vives
- El rústec villancet, by Lluís Maria Millet
- O vos omnes, by Pau Casals
- La sardana de les monges, by Enric Morera
II. The present: the Generació C
- El cant dels ocells, by Bernat Vivancos
- Ave Maris Stella, by Josep Ollé
- O vos omnes, by Joan Magrané
- Salve Regina, by Josep Vila Casañas
- Magnum Mysterium, by Carles Prat
III. The future: the Cançoner Popular Contemporani
The concert concludes with a forward-looking perspective: the Cançoner Popular Contemporani project, which invites contemporary composers to reinterpret songs collected by Rafael Patxot i Juvert more than a hundred years ago.
- Tota la gent de Rupit, by Anna Campmany
- La fadrina galana, by Arnau Tordera
- Jota i fandango, by Xavier Puig
- Sa ximbomba, by Josep-Lluís Guzmán i Antich
- El comte Arnau, by Feliu Gasull
The composers
Bernat Vivancos (Barcelona, 1973)
One of the most renowned composers of his generation. Trained in Montserrat and Paris, his music combines spirituality, timbral richness, and spectral harmony. He was musical director of the Escolania de Montserrat and teaches composition at ESMUC. His works have been performed worldwide, and he has collaborated with artists such as Rosalía and Jennifer López.
Josep Ollé i Sabaté (Tortosa, 1987)
Guest composer for the 2025–26 Palau season. Specialised in choral and educational music, he is the author of Ave Maris Stella, winner of the Orfeó Català International Choral Composition Competition. He combines composition with teaching at the Can Ponsic Municipal School of Music.
Joan Magrané (Reus, 1988)
Winner of the Queen Sofía Composition Prize and former resident at the Villa Medici in Rome. His music has been performed by international ensembles such as the Ensemble Intercontemporain and the Spanish National Orchestra. His work blends tradition, poetry, and modernity.
Josep Vila i Casañas (Sabadell, 1966)
A leading conductor and composer. Former director of the Orfeó Català and the Palau Chamber Choir, he has conducted international ensembles and recorded for prestigious labels. A choral conducting professor at ESMUC, he is the author of works such as Sanctus-Benedictus and Salve Regina.
Carles Prat (Igualada, 1985)
Director of the Cor Francesc Valls and the Cor d’Homes d’Igualada, he is also a composer and singer. His work ranges from choral music to cobla and educational pieces. As a member of the Chamber Choir, he knows first-hand the choral tradition that inspires his creativity.
Anna Campmany (Sant Cugat del Vallès, 1993)
Singer and composer, trained at the Conservatori del Liceu and the Hochschule für Musik Basel. She has received commissions from major musical institutions in the country and several composition awards. She is the author of Tota la gent de Rupit and works for the Concert de Sant Esteve and the Festival de Peralada.