Schubertíada Barcelona

We dedicate this concert series to a space and time that were paradigmatic in terms of creativity. A time of artistic effervescence as a means of expressing the upheaval between two eras—the late Romantic period and the advent of modernity—a prelude to the avant-garde movements and culminating in the cataclysm of the Great War. Vienna, the capital of the vast Austro-Hungarian Empire (perhaps itself a metaphor for the national and civilizational diversity of Europe), became the laboratory for this entire process. The parallel development of sciences such as psychology (Freud), medicine (immunology), politics (Zionism), urbanism (Wagner), and architecture (Loos) confirms the close relationship and fruitful exchange with the arts, which at that time took on a central role in social life.

The song cycle “Vienna 1900” focuses on a fabulously prolific and creative period, which gave rise to such original creative voices as Hugo Wolf, Gustav Mahler, Arnold Schönberg, Alban Berg, and Alexander von Zemlinsky. New aesthetics were discovered, and unheard-of expressive registers were explored—still striking today for their boldness. At the same time, the concert programs will seek connections with the tradition of Franz Schubert, in order to highlight, from this perspective, the visionary quality of his lieder.

It is fitting to look to the genre of song as a point of encounter with the Vienna of 1900, as it allows us to explore not only the path of music, of course, but also that of poetry—a faithful companion on this journey toward modernity.