What a gem of a building this is! Owned by, and home to, the "Orfeo Catala" choral society, it was built in just three years (1905-1908), after a planning stage of only one year ( both of which were stunning accomplishments of their own). This was all achieved using local craftsmen and artists. The concept was to have a building that, by itself, expressed Catalan Nationalist ideas. Our first view of the building nearly took our breath away. The red brick facade covered with sculptures, glazed tiles, and stained glass were just a hint of what we would find inside. The main concert hall, which can hold 2200 spectators, is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful in the world. Because of the extensive use of stained glass windows along the side walls, and a very large inverted glass dome in the ceiling, this hall is the only one in Europe that is totally illuminated by natural light during daytime. Even what is called the choir's rehearsal hall is impressive. It can seat 538 people for smaller performances and has state of the art acoustics and audio-visual technology. All and all, this is a must see venue if you ever get to Barcelona. The red brick facade, with the contrasting white sculptures, and the multi-colored glazed tiled columns creates a stunning picture. The glazed-tiled supporting columns also housed the concert hall ticket windows (which have been moved to a newer part of the building). The central staircase reminded us of those we found in palaces throughout Europe. The combination of glass and iron was utilized extensively throughout the building, even in the railings of the staircase. The most impressive part of the building is the main concert hall. The large stained glass windows on both side walls and the very large inverted dome in the ceiling makes this the only hall in Europe that is totally illuminated by natural light during daytime. The inverted glass domed skylight in the ceiling was designed by Antoni Rigalt and weighs nearly two tons. On the roof of the building is a glass covering over the dome so that rainwater does not get into it. The back walls of the stage have a series of "muses" each playing a different instrument. Another highlight of the building is the glazed-tiled colonnaded balcony. The "Petit Palau", or choir rehearsal room, is also used for smaller performances and can seat up to 538 spectators...
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Carl and Lorraine Aveni are two retirees planning on traveling through Europe for at least one year.
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