Palau de la Música Catalana, Concert hall in Sant Pere district, Barcelona, Spain
The Palau de la Música Catalana is a modernist concert hall in the Sant Pere district of Barcelona, built between 1905 and 1908. The façade displays red brick, ceramic mosaics, and columns with floral motifs, while the interior includes an oval stage beneath an inverted skylight of colored glass.
The Orfeó Català, founded in 1891 by Lluís Millet and Amadeu Vives, commissioned Lluís Domènech i Montaner in 1904; the first stone was laid on 23 April 1905 on the site of the former cloister of the Convent of Sant Francesc. The hall opened on 9 February 1908. After being declared a National Monument in 1971, it was restored and extended between 1982 and 1989 by architects Òscar Tusquets and Carles Díaz, and UNESCO listed it in 1997.
The home of the Orfeó Català choral society carries the group's name in an inscription above the façade, reflecting its role in promoting Catalan song. Concerts feature repertoire from regional composers and Spanish masters, making the hall a venue for the city's musical heritage.
Guided visits are available daily and allow access to the main auditorium and side rooms with explanations of the architecture and decorations. Entry is through Carrer del Palau de la Música, and visitors should wear comfortable shoes as stairs lead to the upper galleries.
The inverted skylight displays a golden sunburst surrounded by a choir of female figures in shades of blue and orange, descending from the sky. The sculpture of a riding Valkyrie emerges from one corner of the stage frame, carrying a sword above her head.
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