At the Palau de la Música Catalana, we want classical music to transcend borders, to be accessible to all kinds of audiences, and we also want to make a special effort to contribute to the cultural fabric of the city and the country. Because the Palau and the Orfeó Català are not only about music — we are about culture. And it is culture that defines us as human beings, that enriches us and allows us to grow as a community. For this reason, this season we wanted to place a special emphasis on the idea of the “ritual.” In the contemporary era, rituals have transformed into other forms of cultural and social practices, beyond the liturgical or religious world — such as sports events, concerts, or celebrations.

These events are not only a form of entertainment; they are also a means of deep connection, designed to create a sense of belonging and communion. And we firmly believe that attending and experiencing a concert at the Palau is, in itself, a ritual experience — a ceremony with its own protocols, a set of gestures, words, and actions performed systematically with a symbolic, cultural, and social purpose. So this season, we invite our audience to collectively enjoy this ritual experience, in the company of internationally renowned names in classical music, while promoting choral singing, supporting national talent, and programming great universal works, always with a strong focus on contemporary creation.

On another note, I am pleased to announce once again that this season, the Orfeó Català will be Gustavo Dudamel’s guest choir in Los Angeles to perform Beethoven’s Missa solemnis. In his final season with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Dudamel has chosen to bring together, for the first time, choral and orchestral forces for one of the most profound musical ideas in history. This work is not only universal — it is also especially emblematic in the history of the Orfeó, as it was the first choir to perform it in Spain in 1927, commemorating the centenary of Beethoven’s death, under the baton of Lluís Millet at the Palau de la Música Catalana. At that time, the work's complexity posed a major challenge to the choir members, culminating in three concerts and the first-ever recording broadcast on radio and disc. Nearly a century later, the Orfeó will once again reach new heights in the United States, this time led by the new conductor of the Orfeó Català, Xavier Puig.

For the 2025–26 season, we’ve also prepared three very special themes: we’ll commemorate the centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death with a concert featuring the Orfeó Català; we’ll mark the double anniversary of Juli Garreta, celebrating both the 150th anniversary of his birth and the 100th of his death — often referred to as the Catalan Richard Strauss; and we’ll pay tribute to the 150th anniversary of Manuel de Falla’s birth, a composer closely tied to our modernist concert hall. These tributes will connect us with the past so that we can continue growing through music.

This season, we’re also committed to expanding our number of in-house concerts and co-productions with our regular collaborators. We remain attuned to the times, working to make the Palau and Orfeó Català project an excellent, high-quality, ambitious, and sustainable endeavor — to reach wider audiences and turn our impact into a true ritual. We count on the valuable support of our patrons, benefactors, and public institutions, as well as the dedication of our staff and choir members, to keep pursuing excellence and inspiring our audiences.

We present first-rate orchestras because we are fascinated by their sound and their ability to convey the legacy of great composers. We are honored to welcome the London Symphony Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Budapest Festival Orchestra, among others. Through their brilliant performances, they will take us on an emotional and sonic journey through the great works of music history — a true ritual.

We bring conductors with strong personalities to keep classical music a living tradition through their unique interpretations. This season will feature great masters like Teodor Currentzis, Iván Fischer, Myung-Whun Chung, Simon Rattle, and Daniele Gatti, among others.

We showcase artists who are already living legends, because listening to them is always a masterclass and they attract large audiences drawn by their charisma. That’s why this year our concert hall will host Anne-Sophie Mutter, Cecilia Bartoli, Zubin Mehta, Grigory Sokolov, András Schiff, and Elisabeth Leonskaja, among others.

We feature today’s composers because our programming seeks to keep tradition alive while also shining a light on what is current, relevant, and high-quality. We will hear works by Gabriela Ortiz, Raquel García-Tomás, Caroline Shaw, and Anna Thorvaldsdottir, among others. Their creations define our time and our society.

We support young musicians from our country because nurturing emerging talent is fundamental to us. The Palau is a space for artists to grow, establish themselves, and project internationally. This season, our resident ensembles include the Trio Fortuny, the Kebyart saxophone quartet, Frames Percussion, and also the Cosmos, Vivancos, and SenArts Quintets, among others — showcasing the freshness, creativity, and strength of the new generation of Catalan musicians.

We have also coined the name “Generació C” to bring together a group of young, highly talented composers who share a Catalan identity, a contemporary spirit, and a passion for choral music. Anna Capmany, Josep Ollé, Carles Prat, Joan Magrané, and Bernat Vivancos are part of this emerging group leading the future of Catalan choral music.

We program composers from our Catalan heritage because we believe their works are of exceptional quality and deserve to be rediscovered by new generations. This year we highlight Juli Garreta, Joan Lamote de Grignon, Joan Guinjoan, and Eduard Toldrà — names that live in our collective memory and return to the Palau to enrich our repertoire.

We program great choral works because they are a vital part of the musical tradition and a major pillar of our programming. Our resident choirs will have the opportunity to grow and tackle challenges such as Beethoven’s Missa solemnis, Verdi’s Requiem, Bach’s Mass in B Minor, Haydn’s The Creation, and Bruckner’s Mass No. 2, among others. These works will be both a challenge and an opportunity for artistic growth and consolidation of our choral legacy.

We have scheduled 180 concerts and more than 170 school and family performances to give musicians opportunities to share their art and to make music, in all its variety, attractive to everyone — helping to make people’s lives better and happier.