In 2026, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Manuel de Falla Matheu (Cádiz, 1876 – Alta Gracia, Argentina, 1946), born to a Catalan mother and one of the most internationally renowned composers in Spanish music. His work draws from the richness of Andalusian tradition found in cante jondo and flamenco, enriching it with an original and timbrally rich orchestration style. Falla built a bridge between the ancestral and the contemporary, evoking soundscapes that exemplify the multifaceted artistic spirit of the 20th century.

Falla successfully engaged with the many artistic avant-gardes he encountered firsthand in Paris, something that became especially evident during his neoclassical period alongside international figures such as Igor Stravinsky. Nevertheless, folk influences remained central throughout his work, which, although not particularly extensive, spans a wide scope. Barcelona was a city he frequented often, and his music had a strong presence in the early years of the Palau de la Música Catalana, where Psyché premiered on February 9, 1925, and where, on November 5, 1926, the Concerto for Harpsichord and Five Instruments was presented, performed by Wanda Landowska with musicians from the Pau Casals Orchestra. These two works and many others will be performed at the Palau throughout the 2025–26 season and until the conclusion of the commemorative year.