A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

PERELADA FESTIVAL PRESENTS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF MUSIC AND SPIRITUALITY

  • The third edition of the Peralada Easter Festival, taking place from 17 to 20 April at the Carmen Church in Peralada, will feature six exceptional performances, increasing the number of shows, as well as a new matinee on Easter Sunday.
  • Among the highlights are the world premiere of the Easter Responsories by Bernat Vivancos, the revival and Spanish premiere of the oratorio Sanctus Petrus et Sancta Magdalena by Hasse, and the debut of renowned cellist Pablo Ferrández, accompanied by pianist Luis del Valle.
  • The poster for this edition features a work by Giampietrino, a disciple of Leonardo da Vinci. Recently discovered in the collection of the Peralada Castle Museum, Saint Catherine of Alexandria symbolises the perfect fusion of classical music and art that defines the festival.

Barcelona, 29 January

This morning, in the Oriol Bohigas Auditorium at the Ateneu Barcelonès, the artistic programme for the 3rd Easter Festival of the Peralada Festival was unveiled. The festival will take place from 17 to 20 April 2025 at the impressive Carmen Church in Peralada. Oriol Aguilà, the festival's artistic director, accompanied by musical directors Dani Espasa and Jorge Losana, as well as composer Bernat Vivancos, revealed the details of an edition that stays true to the essence of the festival: a profound experience of contemplation and spiritual beauty, perfect for celebrating Easter.

This year, the festival will feature more events and additional dates, with a programme offering six exceptional concerts, including a new addition: a matinee on Easter Sunday starring the Baroque orchestra Il Pomo D’Oro, which will fill the morning with emotion and virtuosity. Additionally, the poster for this year's festival features a recently discovered masterpiece at the Peralada Castle Museum: ‘Saint Catherine of Alexandria’ by Giampietrino, symbolising the fusion of classical music and art that defines the event.

The president of the Peralada Castle Foundation and the Peralada Festival, Isabel Suqué Mateu, emphasises that the Easter edition “has established itself as a unique event that promotes a deep connection between music and spirituality, creating an atmosphere of recollection that invites contemplation.” She also points out that “the poster, illustrated with 'Saint Catherine of Alexandria' by Giampietrino, a 16th-century oil on panel from the collections of the Peralada Castle Museum, perfectly symbolises the union between classical art and music, key pillars of our programme, reflecting our passion for culture in all its forms”.

The Peralada Easter Festival is an unmissable event for music lovers and culture enthusiasts, bringing together music, art, and spirituality in a unique cultural experience of transcendence.

Oriol Aguilà, artistic director of the Peralada Festival, emphasised that "in just two editions, the Easter programme has become a benchmark for a unique and intense musical experience, set in the intimate Carmen Church in Peralada." According to Aguilà, "with excellence as our guide, we continue to offer a programme that extends beyond the summer, continuing to engage the imagination of those seeking special moments throughout the year." The third edition of the festival boasts a unique feel, with the collection of paintings at the Peralada Castle Museum—highlighting the recently rediscovered Saint Catherine of Alexandria by Giampietrino—further enriching the musical programme. "The Festival highlights the exceptional legacy of sacred music, in dialogue with compositions from both the past and present, always with a deep focus on the spirituality of Easter," concluded Aguilà.

A musical Easter at the Perelada Festival:

Peralada offers a unique musical and spiritual experience, inviting attendees to immerse themselves in the beauty of Easter through music and spirituality. The Carmen Church, with its solemn atmosphere and rich history, provides the perfect setting for these spectacular concerts.

Maundy Thursday

The festival opens its third edition on 17 April at 8 p.m. with an oratorio of great emotional depth: Sanctus Petrus et Sancta Magdalena by German composer Johann Adolph Hasse. Making its Spanish premiere, this piece combines emotional depth with the sophisticated musical style of the 18th century, depicting key moments in the lives of St. Peter and Mary Magdalene, two pivotal figures of Christianity. Through music full of drama and beauty, the work reflects on forgiveness and hope. The Vespres d'Arnadí musical ensemble, conducted by Dani Espasa, with the exceptional voices of Valer Sabadus (Sanctus Petrus), Marie Lys (Sancta Maria Magdalena), Maria Espada (Maria Jacobí), Rafael Quirant (Josephus) and Anna Alàs (Maria Salomé), alongside the Amics de la Unió Children's Choir, will deliver a performance that perfectly embodies the Peralada Festival's commitment to the recovery of musical heritage, presenting this rare gem of the late Baroque period.

Good Friday

On 18 April, the day will begin with a high-calibre concert by baritone Benjamin Appl (6 p.m.), making his debut at the festival, accompanied by the Baroque orchestra Vespres d'Arnadí and Dani Espasa. Recognised as one of the most brilliant Lieder and oratorio singers of his generation, he will perform a concert featuring small masterpieces from the Baroque repertoire, including Johann Sebastian Bach's Ich habe genug, a meditative aria about life and death that invites the listener to find solace in faith, and Jan Dismas Zelenka's Incipit Lamentatio, a dramatically charged piece that explores human suffering in times of despair.

At 10:30 p.m., the festival will present one of its most eagerly anticipated moments: the world premiere of Easter Responsories, a work specially commissioned for the occasion by the composer Bernat Vivancos. This new work by the Catalan composer consists of nine responsories, three for each of the main liturgical days of Easter (Feria V in Coena Domini, Feria VI in Parasceve, and Sabbato Sancto). Vivancos, whose early training at the Escolanía de Montserrat and close ties with this institution — of which he was musical director from 2007 to 2014 — have profoundly shaped his auditory imagery, presents a deep meditation on Easter in this new work. His deep understanding of ecclesiastical language, coupled with the influence of Spanish Renaissance composers such as Tomás Luis de Victoria, is key to his unique style. As he himself has mentioned, his participation at the age of 11 in the recording of Victoria's Lamentations, left a lasting impression on him, particularly due to the "sacred emotion" and the connection between the notes and the sacred text, which influenced his view of music as a vehicle for spirituality. The work will be performed in Peralada by the prestigious Latvian Radio Choir, regarded as one of the best choirs in the world, under the direction of Sigvards Klava. With this new commission, the Peralada Festival strengthens its role as a catalyst for contemporary musical creation, solidifying its vision of renewed spirituality through the unique language that music provides.

 

Holy Saturday

Saturday will feature a concert for those who appreciate virtuosity. Pablo Ferrández (6 p.m.), winner of the 15th International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, is recognised as one of the best cellists of his generation and has become an international cello phenomenon and a key figure in classical music. At the Peralada Festival, Ferrández will be joined by pianist Luis del Valle in a programme featuring some of the most emotive and complex pieces in the repertoire. Among them, Kol Nidrei by Max Bruch, a piece that evokes traditional Jewish melodies, followed by Beethoven's famous Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 3, a piece full of energy and emotion. The programme will also feature Serguéi Rajmáninov's Vocalise, of great melancholic beauty and Brahms' Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor, which displays the German composer's virtuosity and profound emotion.

Later, at 10:30 p.m., the polyphonic ensemble Cantoría, one of the most distinguished choirs on the international choral scene, will perform Dieterich Buxtehude's Membra Jesu Nostri patientis sanctissima (BuxWV 75). Composed in 1680, it is renowned for its profound spirituality and refined musical language. This work is presented as an exercise in reflection on the body of Christ in the act of sacrifice for humanity and has become a seminal piece of 17th-century religious music. The seven cantatas that make up the piece are presented in ascending order, emulating the vision of the faithful: from the feet to the face, passing through the knees, hands, chest, and heart. Each cantata has its own musical and emotional characteristics, yet they all connect to offer an experience of deep devotion and contemplation. With 10 singers and an instrumental ensemble comprising two violins, viol, violone, theorbo, and organ, the staging serves to support a complete interpretation of this work, imbued with spirituality, symbolism, and solemnity.

Easter Sunday

The third edition of the Easter Festival will close with a matinee on Easter Sunday (10:30 a.m.), which will offer a journey through Baroque music in two parts. The first part will include Salve Regina by Domenico Scarlatti and Leonardo Leo, two key composers of the Neapolitan school. With its melodic clarity and restrained counterpoint, Scarlatti's work contrasts with Leo's luminous and operatic Salve Regina, which incorporates Neapolitan techniques and anticipates the Galant style. Both compositions reflect how religious music became infused with operatic forms and techniques. The second part of the programme delves into some of Händel's most famous arias, including three pieces representative of his creative stages: "Tu del Ciel ministro eletto" (Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno), the duet "Io t'abbraccio" (Rodelinda), and "Volate amori" (Ariodante), interspersed with works by Nicola Porpora and Riccardo Broschi, both recognised for their mastery of Baroque opera. The performances will feature soprano Mélissa Petit, mezzo-soprano Ann Hallenberg, alongside the anticipated debut at the festival of the Baroque orchestra Il Pomo D'Oro, conducted by concertmaster Zefira Valova.

This programme will offer the audience a chance to once again immerse themselves in the magic of Baroque music, while experiencing the symbolism of the Resurrection and bringing a fitting conclusion to the spiritual and musical journey they will experience throughout the festival.

Artistic Confluences: a parallel programme of dialogues and cultural activities

The third edition of the Peralada Easter Festival goes beyond concerts, offering a series of parallel activities that enrich the cultural experience of the event. Held across various venues and institutions, these activities provide the public with the opportunity to explore the historical and creative contexts that inspire the music featured in the festival

25 March - 6:00 p.m. (Barcelona Music Museum)

Lecture: ‘The Responsories of Vivancos. Tradition and Modernity". The composer Bernat Vivancos and the musicologist Xavier Chavarria will offer a detailed insight into their commissioned work for the festival, Easter Responsories, exploring the relationship between tradition and modernity in their creative process.

26 March - 6:00 p.m. (Casa de Cultura de Girona)

Lecture: "Vis Amoris or the Power of Love: Membra Jesu Nostri Patientis Sanctissima" by Dieterich Buxtehude. Jorge Losana, director of the Cantoría choral group, will join Father Jordi Agustí Piqué i Collado OSB, a monk from Montserrat, to explore the deep, contemplative essence of this iconic Baroque piece.

2 April - 7:00 p.m. (Reial Cercle Artístic de Barcelona)

Talk: "Saint Peter and Mary Magdalene According to Hasse: Unjustly Neglected". Mezzo-soprano Anna Alàs, musical director Dani Espasa, and music critic Jaume Radigales will take an in-depth look at the composer Johann Adolph Hasse and his work Sanctus Petrus et Sancta Magdalena, which will be performed at the festival's opening.

17 April - 6:00 p.m. (Library of the Peralada Castle Museum)

Lecture: "Giampietrino, Disciple of Leonardo da Vinci, in the Collections of Peralada Castle". Art historian Ignacio G. Panicello will reveal the discovery of Giampietrino's Saint Catherine of Alexandria, featured on the festival's poster, and explore other notable works from the Peralada Castle collection.

Passes and tickets on sale:

From tomorrow, Thursday 30 January at 10:00 a.m., the Easter passes will go on sale exclusively for those who wish to enjoy the entire programme or several concerts. From Friday 31 January, also at 10:00 a.m., individual concert tickets will go on general sale. Ticket prices range from €25 to €65. 

Passes and tickets on sale at www.festivalperalada.com