theatre

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!