Published: 25 April 2012
Category: Artists

On 22 April there was a special concert at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, organised by the workers at the theatre under outgoing Music Director Michael Boder, to thank the citizens for their support.

This was after a reprieve had been granted from the threatened redundancy of many of the workers due to financial cuts. The aim was to celebrate and reaffirm the Liceu’s importance to the city of Barcelona in a time of financial hardship, and its role as a flagship of national cultural excellence.

The concert featured past, present and future Music Directors Sebastian Weigle, Bertrand de Billy, Michael Boder and Josep Pons conducting the choir and orchestra of the Liceu. The starry line-up of participating stars included: Roberto Alagna, Ainhoa Arteta, Linda Watson, Cristina Obregón, Karine Deshayes, Ildikó Komlosi, Joan Pons, Carlos Alvarez, and pianist Lang Lang. All performed for no fee.

The tickets, which all cost 15 Euros (to cover the expenses of visiting artists) sold out within four hours of being put on sale. The programme consisted of passages from the great operatic composers such as Verdi, Wagner, Puccini and Bizet, and was broadcast live on a giant screen outside the theatre.

Watch an interview with Michael Boder.

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