The concert hall Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona was designed by Spanish architect Lluís Domènech I Montaner for the choral society Orfeó Català. Construction of the building in the Catalan modernist style started in 1905 and the Palau de la Música was inaugurated on February 9, 1908.
The building's facade uses red brick and rich decorations. Among them are the allegoric mosaic representing the members of the Orfeó Català at the top of the main facade and the sculptural group "The Catalan Song" by Spanish sculptor Miguel Blay on one of the building's corners.
facade with the large allegoric mosaic at its top
Sculptural group "The Catalan song" by Miguel Blay
The main concert hall has seats for 2200 spectators and is the only one in Europe to be illuminated entirely by natural light during the day. The sculpted arch around the stage was created by Dídac Masana and Pablo Gargallo; it represents folk music on the left and classical music on the right side.
concert hall
The stained-glass skylight was designed by Antoni Rigalt.
concert hall
skylight
Throughout the building, the mosaic were created by Lluis Bru. The colonnade on the second story balcony features mostly floral motifs.
colonnade on the second story balcony
The Palau de la Música Catalana was restored between 1982 and 1989. At the same time, it received a six stories high extension for dressing rooms, a library and archive, designed by Oscar Tusquets Blanca and Lluís Clotet.
extension by Oscar Tusquets Blanca and Lluís Clotet
extension tower and "Carmela" sculpture by Jaume Plensa
Palau de la Música Catalana was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
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