Barcelona Obertura, the joint initiative to promote classical music performances in the Catalan capital, launches its latest event, Winter in Barcelona, on 14 January.
Organised with three of the city’s leading music venues, the Palau de la Musical Catalana, L’Auditori and the Liceu Opera House, each year Barcelona Obertura hosts various short but intense seasons that incorporate a range of performances at the three famous sites.
Winter in Barcelona features six events on its programme, which runs over five consecutive days.
The inaugural event sees world-class flautist Emmanuel Pahud accompanied by pianist Eric Le Sage at L’Auditori giving a recital of work by Mozart, Schubert, Mendelssohn and Schumann.
The following day, the festival bill includes the performance of Madama Butterfly at the Liceu with Armenian soprano Lianna Haroutounian taking the lead role.
On 16 January, audiences can enjoy an appearance at L’Auditori from the Arcangelo ensemble with its founder and conductor Jonathan Cohen, who together with two guest soloists perform Händel, Vivaldi and Pergolesi’s ‘Stabat Mater’.
Two events are scheduled for 17 January: mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená and pianist Mitusko Uchida join forces at the Palau de la Música for an evening of music by Schumann, Wolf, Dvořák and Schönberg, while at L’Auditori, the Dusseldorf Symphony Orchestra and conductor Ádám Fischer perform Mahler’s ‘Ninth Symphony’.
Finally, bringing the festival to a close, it’s the turn of the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra to present a work by Mahler, in this case, his ‘Sixth Symphony’, which is sometimes nicknamed ‘Tragische’.
When: 14-18 January
Where: L’Auditori, Liceu Opera House and Palau de la Música Catalana
More info: barcelonaobertura.com