Palau de la Música Catalana

Situated at the intersection of Carrer Palau de la Música and Carrer de Sant Pere Mes Alt, in the historic neighborhood of Casc Antic, the palace stands in a cramped street corner. While the majority of notable modernista structures, including those created by Antoni Gaudí, are situated in the fashionable 19th-century expansion of the city called the Eixample.

The Catalan modernism style is evident in the palace's design, with its emphasis on curved lines, dynamic shapes, and intricate decorations that feature floral and organic motifs. Despite its ornate appearance, the palace's design is also highly practical, taking full advantage of the latest technologies and materials available in the early 20th century, such as steel framing. In fact, it was the first building to incorporate curtain wall structures. The wealthy citizens of Barcelona, who were increasingly interested in the Renaixença movement, requested that the architect incorporate materials and techniques that reflected the Catalan identity, which led to the commissioning of local artisans and craftsmen to produce the palace's stunning ornamentation, sculptures, and decorative elements.

The palace's facade boasts a rich decoration that incorporates elements from various sources, including traditional Spanish and Arabic architecture, which seamlessly blend with the building's structure. To create an atmosphere of openness and transparency, the architects carefully chose and placed various features such as the exposed red brick and iron, mosaics, stained glass, and glazed tiles. Even the large sculptural group by Miguel Blay, depicting Catalan music, does not obstruct the view into or out from the interior.

On the second-level balcony of the main facade, two colonnades stand prominently, each adorned with multicolored glazed tile pieces featuring floral designs and capped with a candelabrum that illuminates brightly at night. The main facade is also adorned with large busts of famous composers such as Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Ludwig van Beethoven, while Richard Wagner's bust stands on the side. At the top of the main facade, a large allegoric mosaic by Lluís Bru depicting the members of the Orfeó Català adds to the grandeur. However, due to the narrow street below, it is not possible to observe the mosaic clearly from ground level.

Glazed ceramic moldings arranged in the shape of stars adorn the ceiling of the vestibule. Grand marble staircases, flanked by crowned lamps on columns, lead visitors to the second floor. The staircases' balustrades are also made of marble and feature unique transparent yellow glass balusters. Tiles on the underside of the staircases create gleaming canopies on either side of the vestibule.

In contemporary times, guests typically enter the palace through the more somberly decorated foyer, which was created during the Tusquets and Díaz renovations of the former Orfeó Català headquarters. The spacious foyer features marvelous exposed brick arches adorned with glazed green, pink, and yellow ceramic flowers, echoing the ornamental style found throughout the rest of the building. A large counter in the foyer serves tapas and beverages to concert-goers and visitors touring the palace. The bar sits between massive brick pillars and is illuminated by expansive stained-glass panes suspended above it. Additionally, a glass case in the foyer houses the Orfeó Català's banner, featuring its crest embroidered in the modernisme style on fabric.

The Lluís Millet salon, named in honor of one of the co-founders of the Orfeó Català, is situated on the second floor of the palace. This hall is a popular spot for concert-goers to gather, as well as a learning space for visitors who are exploring the building. Rising two stories from floor to ceiling, the hall offers spectacular views of the exquisite mosaics that adorn the two rows of columns outside its windows, which are far superior to the ones seen from the street.

Bronze busts of renowned musicians associated with the palace adorn the salon, including Lluís Millet and Amadeu Vives, who were the founders of the Orfeó Català, as well as Pablo Casals, Eduard Toldrà (the founder and first conductor of the Orquestra Municipal de Barcelona), Just Cabot (the president of the Orfeó Català), and pianist Rosa Sabater.

The concert hall in the palace is a stunning architectural masterpiece. With a seating capacity of 2,200, it is the only auditorium in Europe that is entirely illuminated by natural light during the day. The walls on two sides are made up of stained-glass panes set in magnificent arches, and the enormous skylight overhead is designed by Antoni Rigalt, featuring an inverted dome in shades of gold surrounded by blue, depicting the sun and the sky.

The concert hall is primarily designed for the presentation of music, with careful consideration given to its utility. The sculptural decor in the hall is a masterpiece of creativity and imagination, with the dominant theme being choral music, fitting for an auditorium commissioned by a choral society.

The arch over the front of the stage represents folk and classical music, with sculptures of Valkyries and a bust of Beethoven on the right and a bust of Anselm Clavé on the left. The back of the stage features 18 sculpted figures of young women playing various musical instruments, known as the 'muses,' with a mosaic of the coat of arms of Catalonia in the middle.

The white tile medallions between the pillars and glass walls display the names of notable musicians, including Palestrina, J. S. Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Victoria, Handel, Mozart, Gluck, and Wagner. The wall between the main room's ceiling and the back of the second floor displays four more ceramic medallions that summarize the history of Catalan music.

The sculptures of winged horses in the upper balcony honor Pegasus, the symbol of high-flying imagination. Every detail in the concert hall has been thoughtfully crafted to create a unique and unforgettable space for the enjoyment of music.

Between 1982 and 1989, the building underwent restoration work that preserved its original decorative and structural integrity while also allowing for technical upgrades and expanded functionality. The restoration utilized the same materials - stone, brick, iron, glass, and ceramics - as the original architect, Domènech i Montaner. Among the notable additions was a six-story building that now houses dressing rooms, a library, and an archive.

From 2006 to 2008, further restoration work was carried out, including the reinstallation of the lantern on the top of the tower and some ornamental features of the faç

The Petit Palau, which opened in 2004, is located 11 meters below the square that was created during the 1982-1989 restoration work. It can seat up to 538 people and features variable acoustics and the latest in audiovisual technology. The design of the Petit Palau is modern yet in keeping with the spirit of Domènech i Montaner, with a light and transparent aesthetic that makes it flexible for various cultural, social, and business uses.

On September 7th, 2018, the palace was featured in a trailer for Season 11 of the BBC TV show Doctor Who. The trailer showed Jodie Whittaker, the first female Doctor, breaking through the glass ceiling of the palace's striking skylight.