Discover a unique concert hall in Barcelona
I would say Barcelona would please many a silver queer traveller. To discover this Art nouveau concert hall among all the camp buildings Barcelona is full of. To admire the Palau de la Música, from inside out, and experience Gran Gala Flamenco.
While visiting Barcelona for a few days I almost got an overdose of architect Antoni Gaudí. I honestly love the Art nouveau period and especially the architecture. However, if you see too much of it in a short period, which easily can be done in Barcelona, it can be overwhelming.
Now I want to draw attention to a building from the Art nouveau period by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner and his Palau de la Música. Completed in 1908 and is today on the World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Palau de la Música
Commissioned by Orfeó Català, a choral society, and still belong to them. Even though the architect had chorales in mind while designing this house, today it also hosts many kind of genres from classical music, jazz and flamenco.
My visit was on a night with the Gran Gala Flamenco. Before the performance, I took a guided tour around the building. So here, I could walk around in my own pace, and marvel at the fantastic details of the building. The building is an impressive sight already from the outside. It is a masterpiece that brings together, sculpture, mosaic, stained glass and ironwork. From details of the ticket office to the colonnade on the terrace. The Library, the Lluís Millet hall, the Chamber Music hall. Not to forget the stained glass roof in the main auditorium, and all the windows around the building.
Gran Gala Flamenco
Gran Gala Flamenco is the most famous flamenco show in Barcelona. I have not seen flamenco live many times before, but this was great. Even though I find men with high heels a bit suspicious. Here I can see how they support the whole attitude in this dance. What fantastic tempo and rhythm they have both in their hands and in feet.
This was a nice evening, and the Palau de la Música was a perfect venue for this performance. If I should ever come back to Barcelona, I will try to visit this place when Orfeó Català has a concert, which must be a great experience. I can see why this building is a draw both for tourists and to citizens of Barcelona alike.
