Sagrada Família starts test concerts in “Ressonàncies” project

Tomorrow, 15 October, the Sagrada Família is kicking off a concert series to test its sound spaces called “Ressonàncies”. The project aims to explore undiscovered parts of the Basilica and analyse their sound potential. The project is carried out in collaboration with L’Auditori, Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC), Palau de la Música and Gran Teatre del Liceu, with three test concerts held in October, November and December 2024.

The tests will be small concerts with an audience of faculty, technical staff and programmers from the four participating music institutions: L’Auditori, ESMUC, Palau de la Música and Gran Teatre del Liceu. Afterwards, each test concert will be evaluated to draw conclusions for the future.

First test with sacred polyphony repertoire from the 17th century

On Tuesday 15 October at 8:30 pm, the first test concert will be held on the inside of the Passion and Nativity façades. They will perform sacred polyphony pieces from the 16th and 17th centuries, conducted by Xavier Pastrana, for choir, minstrel groups and positive organ. Among others, they will perform pieces by J. Cererols, J. C. Kerll, G. Allegri, G. Frescobaldi, M. A. Charpentier and A. Bonelli.

A choir in tower of the Virgin Mary to round out the tests

The final test concert will be held on 3 December inside the Basilica, in the presbytery, children’s choir and platforms at 30 and 45 metres under the tower of the Virgin Mary. It will feature the Orfeó Català Cor de Noies Girls’ Choir accompanied by soprano soloist Marta Mathéu and Mar Vaqué on the presbytery organ, conducted by Montserrat Meneses. They will perform anonymous pieces from the 14th century and works by Antoni Nicolau, J. G. Rheinberger, F. Mompou, B. Britten and F. Mendelssohn.