An Inside Look: La Traviata & Palau de la Música
Last week, Theatre Trip had the chance to see La Traviata at the gorgeous Palau de la Música in the heart of Barcelona, Spain! This version of La Traviata was produced by Novaria Artists, and it features a full symphonic orchestra and a total of over 80 artists on stage. The production itself was stunning. And in combination of seeing this opera at such a legendary location, it was an unforgettable evening of magic and romance.
*Theatre Trip highly recommends Novaria Artists/Palau de la Música and awards them a ⭐!
Location: Barcelona, Spain
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Our Experience Seeing La Traviata at Palau de la Música:
Upon first entering the Palau de la Música, we were blown away! The attention to detail and the amount of eye candy there is incredible. We were a bit early, so we spent a bit of time in the cafe, which was equally gorgeous. It was the perfect setting for a little snack and an espresso before the show began.
La Traviata is one of the most commonly performed operas in the world. And after this performance, I could definitely understand why. For those who aren’t familiar with the opera, it’s basically the story of a woman (Violetta) who has just recovered from being ill. She throws a party to celebrate her good health. And from there, she begins to fall in love with a man. But I’ll leave the rest a surprise.
In this production, the lead of Violetta was played by the stunning Marga Cloquell➝. It was an absolute joy to watch her perform. And she was joined by powerhouses Carlos Cremades and Alberto Cazes. By the end of the night, I admit that I did have to fight back a tear or two.
Related Topic: Barcelona Theatre Guide – All You Need to Know
Here’s the exact view of how the stage looked from our seats before the show began! One of the more interesting choices in this production was that the set pieces were carried out at the top of each act. From there, they would dramatically unveil them by pulling off the sheets. And in the photo, you can also see how the orchestra sits directly on stage.
Fun Fact: Palau de la Música was designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner in 1905 and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
It was an evening of class from start to finish. The orchestra was fantastic. The hall was beautiful. And here’s something else that I had never experienced before this – the music hall is actually filled with natural sunlight! So as the night went on, the room became dimmer and dimmer, adding to the dramatics of the entire production.
Another cool thing is that during intermission, you have the chance to go outside and enjoy a drink in the Palau’s private backyard area, which is pictured below.
Our Experience at the Palau de la Música Tour:
To top it all off, we got to join in on the Palau’s English guided tour! The tour starts off in a beautiful mini cinema-style room. And there we watched a nice video about the history of the Palau. The tour group was a pretty decent size with about 30 or so people. After watching the film, we were guided up the stairs and to the main concert hall. We were given some time to soak it all in and take photos before the tour guide gave us some interesting tidbits of information.
The coolest part of the tour was probably the giant organ demonstration! The acoustics in the hall are incredible. From there, we got the chance to go out on the balcony (which was something we didn’t get to do during the night of the opera). And then we got to see the concert hall from another perspective, which was a relaxing way to spend the morning. And if you don’t get the chance to see a show at the Palau, I would say that it’s a good idea to take the tour!
Quick Tips: If you have to choose between doing the tour or seeing a show, I would definitely suggest paying a bit extra to see a show. And if you’re looking to combine your experience with some tasty food or drink, I can recommend checking out Casa Lolea➝ for some amazing sangria, tapas, and patatas bravas. Or if you’re looking for something a bit less pricey, you can go for drinks at L’Antic Bar➝ or a quick bite at La Masala Cafe➝.
Have you ever been to the Palau de la Musica?
And did you see a show there or take a tour? What did you think? Let us know in the comments! And in the meantime, you can always check out our blog post archive of past theatre visits for even more insight on what’s going on in theaters around the world!
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* A special thanks to Novaria Artists and Palau de la Música for inviting us to the show and tour!
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Author: Stacy Karyn
Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip, author of The Thespian’s Bucket List, and creator of The Cast Album List. She holds a BA in theatre, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
Your enticing article makes me so wish we had seen a show at Palau de Musica while we were in Barcelona. Next time!!
Yes!! You’ll have to add it to the list for next time. 😉