Sagrada Família hosts performance of ‘Misteri de la Selva’ - Sagrada Família hosts performance of ‘Misteri de la Selva’

On 22 September, the Sagrada Família will host a performance of Misteri de la Selva, the oldest European assumptionist drama written in a Romance language, which is expected to include the presence of Cardinal Joan Josep Omella i Omella, Archbishop of Barcelona. Since 1980, Misteri de la Selva has been performed without interruption at the church of Sant Andreu Apòstol de la Selva del Camp (Baix Camp). This year, for its fortieth anniversary, it will be performed at the Basilica. Over the past years, Misteri de la Selva has spread beyond the borders of the Baix Camp region to be performed in full in Montserrat, Tarragona, Elx, Mallorca, Rome and Jerusalem. This, however, is the first time the complete play will be put on in the Catalan capital.  

This representation of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary deals with traditions associated with the August festivities of the Assumption of Mary and the central theme of the piece, the Assumption of Mary into heaven, body and soul, comes from the first centuries of Christianity. Written in Catalan in the late 14^th century, Misteri de la Selva is a first-rate cultural event in Catalonia and received the national award for popular culture for the best artistic initiative of 1994. It is the first complete text of a drama or assumptionist mystery in Catalan, older than that of Valencia, which dates back to the first third of the 15^th century, and that of Elx. The piece features language of the troubadours and chapel chants from the Gregorian repertory of the 12^th to 14^th centuries.

The performance will begin at 8 pm and be broadcast live here. The live performance is full to capacity. For more information about tickets, go to the Misteri de la Selva official website.