Festival Pablo Casals

Festival Pablo Casals: An Exceptional Musical Heritage

The Festival Pablo Casals in Prades was born in 1950 from the will of the legendary Catalan cellist Pablo Casals, who was then in exile in the Pyrénées-Orientales. Having taken refuge in Prades since 1939, Casals had sworn not to perform in public again as long as Western democracies tolerated the Franco regime. It was finally on the occasion of the bicentenary of Jean-Sébastien Bach's death that he agreed to organize a festival, the first concert of which took place on June 2, 1950.

The Abbey of Saint-Michel de Cuxa: An Exceptional Romanesque Setting

The festival mainly takes place in the magnificent Abbey of Saint-Michel de Cuxa, a jewel of Catalan Romanesque art founded in the 9th century, nestled at the foot of the Canigou massif. The exceptional acoustics of the abbey and its majestic setting offer musicians and the public a unique experience, blending thousand-year-old architectural heritage with musical excellence.

A Premier Chamber Music Program

Each edition offers around thirty concerts over two weeks, highlighting the chamber music repertoire from Bach to the present day. The greatest international performers gather in Prades for programs ranging from Baroque sonatas and concertos to contemporary creations, including the classical and romantic masterpieces of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and Brahms.

The Festival Orchestra

The festival has its own Festival Pablo Casals Orchestra, formed by chamber musicians invited each year, which performs symphonic concerts in the abbey. This orchestra perpetuates the tradition inaugurated by Casals himself.

A Spring Tour in the Pyrénées-Orientales

In addition to the summer festival, a Spring Tour brings chamber music to the most beautiful venues in the department: the Théâtre municipal de Perpignan, the Chapelle de l'Ermitage in Font-Romeu, the Centre culturel de Collioure, the Mémorial de Rivesaltes, and the Musée d'Art Moderne de Céret.

Training Tomorrow's Musicians

True to Pablo Casals' educational commitment, the festival hosts young musicians in training each summer who benefit from masterclasses with guest artists. About ten free student concerts allow the public to discover the talents of tomorrow in a privileged setting.