“Europe, peace and culture” in the framework of the 50th anniversary of Casals’ death.
This Friday, May 12, on the occasion of the celebration of Europe Day, an emotional meeting of people linked to the European institutions and admirers of Pau Casals and the values he defended was organized. The objective was to pay tribute to Pau Casals, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his death in 1973.
Pau Casals is one of the most universal names in Catalan culture. Performer, conductor, composer and teacher, he was a great artist of international reference in 20th century music. But in addition to his talent and artistic excellence, he was a lifelong advocate for peace, democracy and human dignity. He said that music could not be separated from life, and that is why his artistic career was an expression of commitment to peace. Apart from the most important distinctions in the world of music, Casals was commissioned to compose a hymn for peace for the United Nations, and received the UN Peace Medal on October 24th, 1971.
As the President of the European Commission, Mrs. Ursula von der Leyen, quoted in her May 2022 speech in Barcelona, his legacy lives on. And that is why we have invited a group of personalities linked to the European institutions who have been able to visit his house at the beach of San Salvador (El Vendrell), today the Pau Casals Museum.
After the visit, a brief act has been programmed in which a statement has been read in favor of the project of the European Union, exalting the value of cultural diversity as a great heritage of the culture of Europe and of the whole of humanity, and of peace, as a fundamental priority to bring us closer to the better world that Pau Casals defended so strongly. The young cellist Miquel Keenan Fuentes (Honorary Mention of the Pau Casals International Award 2020) performed a cello version of the Hymn of Europe.
The event ended with a conversation led by journalist Xavier Mas de Xaxàs, to close the meeting sharing ideas, reflections and wishes.
This initiative aims to be a cry for peace in Europe and the fundamental role of culture.
The event ended with a conversation led by journalist Xavier Mas de Xaxàs, to close the meeting sharing ideas, reflections and wishes.
This initiative aims to be a cry for peace in Europe and the fundamental role of culture.