Barcelona, like many other European cities, is slowly starting to reopen. The Liceu Opera had its first concert since lockdown was instated in mid-March on June 22. A string quartet welcomed a full house. Rather than humans in the audience, there were over 2,000 plants.
The string quartet and their leafy audience.
The UceLi Quartet performed Puccini’s ‘Crisantemi’ to the 2,292 plants. The flora were collected from local nurseries and are to be distributed to 2,292 healthcare workers at the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona as a thank you for their work. The idea was conjured by artist Eugenio Ampudia.
In a statement released on the Liceu’s official website, the peculiar concert was explained: ‘After a strange, painful period, the creator, the Liceu’s artistic director and the curator Blanca de la Torre offered us a different perspective for our return to activity, a perspective that brings us closer to something as essential as our relationship with nature. After the concert, the plants will be donated with a certificate from the artist to 2,292 people who have been on the healthcare frontlines, the toughest front in a battle unprecedented for our generations, in recognition of their work.’
The concert celebrates the return of art and cultural activities.
‘The Liceu, one of the largest and most important opera halls in the world, thus welcomes and leads a highly symbolic act that defends the value of art, music and nature as a letter of introduction to our return to activity. This dialogue between the Teatre and the visual arts gives continuity to the artistic Liceu de les Arts project being implemented by Víctor Garcia de Gomar and will also be the prelude to the 2020/21 season, full of synergies and encounters between artistic disciplines.’
Spain has lifted its 98-day lockdown and is reopening its borders to tourists for the summer season.
Image credit: Liceu Barcelona
