The Gran Teatre del Liceu, the Palau de la Música Catalana, and L’Auditori have announced Barcelona Obertura, a new Spring festival that aims to promote classical music in Barcelona and the city as a place for classical music internationally.

For the purposes of this article, our focus will be solely on vocal and operatic performances.

Vivica Genaux will perform with the Bach Consort Wien and conductor Rubén Dubrovsky in a program featuring music by Vivaldi.

Performance Date: March 8, 2023, Palau de la musica Catalana

The festival continues with “The 7 Deaths of Maria Callas” by Marina Abramovic. The showcase will be led by Antonio Méndez with Gilda Fiume, Vanessa Goikoetxea, Benedetta Torre, Antonia Ahyoung Kim, Rinat Shaham, Leonor Bonilla, and Marta Marthéu starring.

Performance Date: March 9, 2023, Gran Teatre del Liceu

Mark Padmore, Sara Mingardo, and Giuseppina Bridelli headline “Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria.” Fabio Biondi leads Europa Galante.

Performance Date: March 11, 2023, Palau de la musica Catalana

Christoph Prégardien and Roger Vignoles will perform Schubert’s “Die schöne Müllerin.”

Performance Date: March 15, 2023, Palau de la musica Catalana

Mezzo-soprano Marta Infante headlines a program of music by Brahms, Berlioz, Lili Boulanger, and Sofia Gubaidulina. Ludovic Morlot conducts Orféo Català. Marc Bouchkov will be the violin solo on the program.

Performance Date: March 18, 2023, Auditori

Xavier Sabata and Alicia Amo star in Raquel García-Tomás’ “Alexina B.” Josep Pons conducts the Liceu Opera Orchestra while Marta Pazos directs.

Performance Date: March 22, 2023, Gran Teatre del Liceu

Benjamin Appl and James Bailleu lead a performance of “Winterreise” as directed by Bárbara Lluch. 

Performance Date: March 23, 2023, Gran Teatre del Liceu 

The vocal performances of the Barcelona Obertura festival draw to a close with Sarah Blanch and Xabier Anduaga in recital. They will perform Bellini, Verdi, and Donizetti arias and duets alongside pianist Giulio Zappa.

Performance Date: March 24, 2023, Gran Teatre del Liceu

Vox Luminis and the Freiburger Barockorchester, under conductor Lionel Meunier, will perform Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244.

Performance Date: March 30, 2023, Palau de la musica Catalana

The festival draws to a close with a performance of Bach’s Johannes Passion, BWV 245 by Collegium Vocale Gent under Philippe Herreweghe.

Performance Date: March 31, 2023, Palau de la musica Catalana