Thursday : Lingering look at Windows- week 45

How about this for a spectacular start?

How about this for a view through a window?

If ever you are in Barcelona, find yourself just half an hour to tour the Palau de la Musica Catalana.  Better yet, attend a performance.  I promise you, you will not find a more beautiful theatre.

I had never before heard of the architect Lluis Domenech i Montaner, but on my first day in Barcelona I stumbled upon his Hospital de Santa Creu i Sant Pau and was immensely impressed. Day two found me lost in admiration for his Art Nouveau jewel of a theatre, which has been a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.  The website aptly describes it as “a magical music box which brings together all the decorative arts”.

The view from foyer to the outside courtyard.

The view from the foyer to the outside courtyard.

And then there are the stairs up to the theatre.

And then there are the stairs up to the theatre.

The details are beautiful

The details are beautiful

And then you are in the theatre itself

Then you are in the amazing theatre itself.

The auditorium is filled with natural light which filters in through the stained glass skylight and windows.  It was designed for daytime performances and the theme throughout is the natural world.  It is truly a masterpiece.  Sadly most performances these days are on an evening, as the tour guide explained.  She obviously loved her job and it wasn’t hard to see why.

It's hard to do the stained glass ceiling justice in a photo

It’s hard to do the stained glass ceiling panel justice in a photo

Or the trencadis "muses" that adorn the stage

Or the trencadis “muses” that adorn the stage

Each plays a musical instrument, though it might be hard to see here

Each plays a musical instrument- lute, tambourine, Catalan castanets…

The tour includes a short video which explains the background to the theatre’s existence and Catalan pride in this theatre, created purely for its’ choir and musical life.  In the theatre itself, the guide then explains all the symbolism and the special use of trencadis (mosaic made from broken tiles).  I had already perused the website and taken the virtual tour, but still I was enraptured with this wonderful creation, and a fan of Lluis Domenech i Montaner for life.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at some rather special windows with me.  A word of warning- be careful exiting down the marble stairs.  I descended rather faster than I intended!

Dawn has reached week 45 with this challenge.  Sorry I’ve missed a few, but I have a few more up my sleeve for the future.  Come and join us!

60 comments

  1. oh, oh, oh!! there is a virtual tour you say?!?!?!? oh my, I must have a look at that! thanks for sharing your photos of this wondrous place. I had every intention of attending a concert there, just didn’t happen. definitely on the list for next time! I’m going to need a week in Barcelona for all that’s on my list 😉 wonderful photos!

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    1. I think a week would be about right, Tobyo 🙂 I had 5 nights and went to Girona one day (today’s 6WS, when I finish it) and it wasn’t really enough. The link to the website is top of this post and there is a Virtual but it doesn’t take you inside the auditorium itself.

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  3. Pingback: Thursday Lingering Look at Windows-Wk 45 | WoollyMuses
  4. Pingback: Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau- a Modernista triumph | restlessjo

    1. The photos are never quite what I would have liked, Ad. In my mind they were superb shots but I’m too distracted by my surrounds. This time I forgive myself- the surrounds were gobsmacking! And if nothing else, the photos are an aid to memory. 🙂 (it’s not what it was!)

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  7. è stato un periodo particolarmrente prolifico e
    di grandi e ardite innovazioni per l’arte in generale, quello, ma più in particolare per l’architettura che ha espresso ardite fantasie plastiche…anche io non avrei mai voluto allontanarmi da quel magico edificio, ti ringrazio per avermici riportata
    un grande abbraccio

    He was a prolific and particolarmrente period
    large and bold innovations to art in General, but more specifically for the architecture that has made bold plastic fantasies … even I’d never wanted to move away from that magical building, thank you for following avermici
    a big hug

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  8. The guided tour of the Palau Musica Catalana was the icing on the cake of our Barcelona trip Jo! But I wasn’t allowed to click pictures! how did you manage that? 🙂

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    1. They must have changed policy, Madhu. There were no restrictions. I was quite surprised myself, but very grateful, even though my efforts aren’t brilliant. I was too busy gawping! 🙂

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      1. It certainly was gawpworthy!! 🙂 I booked online a week in advance to ensure a place on the tour. Sadly there were no concerts scheduled for when we were there – also in August!

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  11. I have to bookmark this place as I missed it the last time I was there. It’s unbelievable how much you saw during your stay :O. The photos are wonderful, Jo!!!

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    1. Thanks, Paula. It really is a special place and I wasn’t sure whether to use it as my windows post or on your Thursday. I still have Hospital de Sant Pau by Domenech i Montaner to cover so I may yet manage a guest appearance. 🙂
      (and I spent a day in Girona too- this lady is a bit too swift on her pins sometimes!)

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  12. Jo, as I think I said before, I absolutely love this building. What a wonderful breath of fresh air Art Nouveau must have been. I’m sure that there were lots of raised eyebrows, but these lovely buildings stand the test of time. And they sure don’t make ’em like this anymore. ~James

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    1. If we’d been staying more centrally it might have happened, Cathy- a ballet or concert would have been fabulous. There was a guitar soloist performing the night of my birthday and I was tempted but not sure. And then we ran out of time 🙂
      The bruises are fading (like the memories- boo! hoo!) Just booked Tavira for 2nd January to cheer me up.

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      1. Oh boy, Jo, that’s a perfect treat. At the same time you’re going to Tavira, I’m heading to California for 10 days. I can’t wait. There IS light at the end of the tunnel.

        Glad to know your bruises are fading. Sorry you didn’t have enough time for the guitar soloist. 🙂

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      2. Fabulous, Cathy! You and Mike, or solo? Pretending not to be jealous- your temperatures will better ours by a long way! (and you said you like the cold!!) Last time I was in California (the only time!) they had “June gloom”, but it was still warm. 🙂

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  19. I have indeed, especially as I had never heard of it, let alone have the pleasure of attending a concert there. It’s a little miracle of opulence and light – the light is just wonderful, and I really love that first shot of yours Jo.

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