Following the opening ceremony held this Monday, April 13, in El Vendrell, an international program of activities has been launched to honor the musical and humanistic legacy of the Maestro until October 2027.

El Vendrell, April 14, 2026. The birthplace of Pau Casals hosted the moving opening ceremony yesterday afternoon for the Commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the birth of the most universal Spanish musician. This event marks the start of an ambitious calendar promoted by the Pau Casals Foundation, together with the Government of Catalonia and the El Vendrell City Council, with the collaboration of Acción Cultural Española (AC/E).

The inaugural event, directed by playwright Pau Carrió and hosted by actress Elisabet Casanovas, featured performances by the Quartet Gerhard, the Cor Cererols, and cellist Òscar Alabau, soloist of the Gran Teatre del Liceu Orchestra, who had the honor of playing the historic Goffriller cello (1733) that belonged to the Maestro.

A Program with International Scope

The commemoration, which will run until late 2027, includes more than sixty programmed activities in Spain and abroad, with a significant presence in key cities such as Madrid:

Major Concerts: Highlights include a recital by the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Auditorio Nacional de Música in Madrid, as well as a concert at the Palau de la Música Catalana featuring the winner of the Queen Elisabeth International Competition.

Traveling Exhibitions: The exhibition "Pau Casals: An Artist at the Service of Peace" will tour several locations, including CaixaForum Madrid, the Palau Robert in Barcelona, and the Pau Casals Museum in El Vendrell.

Art and Humanism: A sculpture by Jaume Plensa will be installed in the gardens of the Pau Casals Museum, symbolizing the enduring relevance of the message of peace and freedom that Casals defended throughout his life.

The Return of the "Casals Goffriller" Cello

One of the most significant milestones of this anniversary is the Foundation's decision to entrust the Maestro’s exceptional personal cello to the first prize winner of the Queen Elisabeth International Competition (Brussels, June 2026). The selected musician will take on the commitment to play this masterpiece of lutherie in Spain during July, both at the Pau Casals International Music Festival in El Vendrell and at the Palau de la Música.

Pau Casals was much more than an exceptional musician; he was a pedagogue, a conductor, and, above all, a humanist committed to democracy and human rights. His legacy remains a vital reference for world culture.

> View the full commemoration program here

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