Last Updated on January 5, 2025 by Christian Heide
The Palau de la Música is one of the most beautiful concert halls in the world. We have already written a detailed blog post about the grand architecture of the Palau. To all our guests we recommend a visit as this is a Barcelona highlight that you should not miss out on!
There are two ways of discovering the beauty of this magnificent building. First, you book a tour and explore the interior with an audio guide or you book a guided tour. This is absolutely recommendable. Second, you buy a ticket for a concert and enjoy the breathtaking atmosphere of this venue. The concert hall offers concerts on a nearly daily basis. They are mostly classic or instrumental. Sometime they offer Flamenco shows with Spanish guitar. As we try to see a concert at least once a year we have seen a variety already. And every time we are captured by the Palau’s beauty again.
Tradition of the New Year’s Concert
For the second time we attended the New Year’s Concert. This particular concert has been a tradition in Barcelona’s Palau de la Música for many years. A tradition that started in Austria.
The New Year’s Concert began during World War II as a way to create a sense of cultural normality in occupied Austria, raise funds for victims, and lift the spirits of the people. After the war, it became a beloved tradition, featuring the festive music of the Strauss family, a symbol of Vienna. Over time, works by other composers, particularly from the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, were included. These were known for their vibrant rhythms, colorful timbres, and joyful melodies.
Special seats – sitting alongside the musicians of the orchestra
You will find several concerts around Christmas and New Year’s. We decided to start the new year with swinging valses on January 1st. This time it was an incredible experience. We got very special seats as we could sit within the orchestra. The Palau calls these seats “Butaca 360 Experience: living the emotion of music from the Palau stage, alongside the musicians of the orchestra!” It was truly magnificent.
As Michael did not know about our seats he got quite nervous when we were brought backstage where we had to wait until being seated. Carles was our host and explained to us that we had music instruments under our seats and could join the orchestra during the last song: the Radetzky March. I found a triangle under my seat that I gladly used later on. When the concert started the lights in the hall went out. However, the stage where we were seated was in the spot light. This was a completely new experience – 2200 pairs of eyes seeing us sitting alongside the musicians.
Orquestra Simfònica del Vallès
The concert was performed by the Orquestra Simfònica del Vallès and led by the wonderful conductor, Isabel Rubio. The orchestra is the only private professional orchestra in Spain with a permanent staff. Their musicians and management team are both the owners and employees of the organisation. They play more than 100 times a year and in the past performed alongside internationally acclaimed artists, such as Andrea Bocelli, Josep Carreras, Barbara Hendricks, Plácido Domingo, Sting or Alan Parsons Project among many others.
Isabel Rubio was brilliant as conductor. As we had seats facing her we could live every vibe of the music with her. Her facial expressions and skilled hands made the orchestra performing at their best. At the end we were lucky to get a photo with her. For us the evening was a once in a lifetime experience!
Program of the New Year’s Concert in the Palau de la Música
Antonín DVOŘÁK: Slavic dance no. 1, op. 46
Léo DELIBES: Coppélia (intermission, waltz)
Johann STRAUSS II: Leichtes Blut, op. 319
Émile WALDTEUFEL: The skaters waltz
Georges BIZET: “Farandole”, from L’Arlesienne Suite núm. 2
Joan MARTORELL: El vals de na Martina
Leroy ANDERSON: Plink, Plank, Plunk!
Johann STRAUSS II: Kaiser-Walzer
Zequinha DE ABREU: Tico Tico
Josef STRAUSS: Plappermäulchen, op. 245
Johann STRAUSS II: An der schönen blauen Donau op. 314
