Repertoire

Manel Oltra: Montmagastre, petit quadre simfònic Op. 145
José Rafael Pascual-Vilaplana: Falhànis, fantasy for band
Salvador Brotons: Carpe Diem, Catalan rhapsody n. 6
Ferde Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite

Artists

BMB
Salvador Brotons, conductor

Programme

In this programme, the Barcelona Symphonic Band presents a musical journey through landscapes and mythical settings, featuring places both real and imaginary. Ferde Grofé’s Grand Canyon Suite, which premièred in 1931 and is the longest piece in the programme, was one of the first American compositions to transform nature into a musical narrative, using a descriptive style that connects directly with the listener. This perspective enters into dialogue with recent Catalan works performed just beforehand, which likewise explore the most compelling possibilities of band music.

First up will be Manel Oltra’s  Montmagastre, a “small symphonic painting” evoking the different textures of nature, which will give way to conductor José Rafael Pascual-Vilaplana’s Falhànis, a fantasia brimming with energy and colour. These will be followed by Salvador Brotons’ Carpe Diem, a rhapsody with an inspiring title in which the visual dimension is more suggestive than literal. Conducted by maestro Brotons himself, the programme will unfold as a sequence of contrasting scenes, highlighting the band’s ability to evoke images, atmospheres and shared emotions.