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The Pau Casals Musical Association brings together people and entities mostly from El Vendrell, the maestro's native village. It was established in 1973 with the purpose of honoring the figure of Casals, making known his musical and humanistic legacy and the values that he defended.
It also aims to promote music in general as one of the most universal vehicles of expression and "give fair recognition to people who, in a completely altruistic manner, made their personal and material efforts available to society."
In the Portal del Pardo exhibition hall, calle Major 20 del Vendrell, the exhibition on the 50 years of the Pau Casals del Vendrell Musical Association can be seen until November 4. The anthological exhibition is, in fact, a review of the history of the last half century of the Association and a vindication of the figure of Pau Casals
We interviewed the president of the Association, Joan Miró i Soler, born in Barcelona, from a Vendrellense family. An economist by profession, he has directed the oldest national audit firm in the country and has always been related, in some way, to the social economy. In 2008 he was awarded by the Col·legi de Censors Jurats de Comptes de Catalunya for his professional contributions in the world of non-profit entities.
Interested in the defense of cultural heritage, he considers himself an aficionado of music, mainly that defined as "classical" and is an enthusiastic collaborator of the Pau Casals International Music Festival. He is also a member of the Vendrell Boys, the prestigious local gang.
The link with the Pau Casals Musical Association comes from afar, as a result of his friendship with Josep Altet Font, one of the founders and soul of the entity and for whom he has always felt great admiration and esteem as a person.
In 2020, with his team, he became president of the Association. During this period there have been evident developments in the organization's activities, either developing incipient projects from the previous stage (image, website, dissemination) or acting in new fields (social networks, synergies with entities, Musical Wednesdays, Els teus clàssics cycle , regular contacts with Prada de Conflent...), which has led to greater interest among the population in the entity and its objectives, along with a certain increase in the number of associated people.
As part of the commemorative events of the fiftieth anniversary of the Association, they have organized an exhibition. What is the objective of this exhibition?
Yes, we have put together an exhibition and many other things, all of them to explain a small part of our history, which took place in a completely different context from the current one in its sociocultural, economic and political aspects; a period in the life of El Vendrell that involved a mobilization around Pau Casals and everything he represented as a committed person. First of all, we try to explain the role that the Association had in pushing the administrations in difficult times, which is essential so that the generations of our days can understand why today they enjoy material means - such as the Auditorium, the School of Music, Plaza Bach and even the Fenosa monument today in Barcelona - or intangible means, such as the International Music Festival. Secondly, with this exhibition we intend to give fair recognition to people who, in a completely altruistic way, made their personal and material efforts available to society.
What is the origin of the exhibited objects?
The exhibition has been possible thanks to the contribution of graphic and audiovisual material from various individuals and also from the Association itself, whose documentation is deposited in the Regional Archive. Two models of monuments to Pau Casals are also on display, the one in Apel·les Fenosa, today in Barcelona, and the one in Viladomat, located in Plaça Nova in El Vendrell. When the exhibition in El Vendrell ends, this exhibition will be offered to other municipalities in the territory.
You talk about the two fiftieth anniversaries. Can you explain it to us?
This year, 2023, marks 50 years since the death of Pau Casals. A few months before the musician's death, also in 1973, our association was formally created, although in reality it had been functioning as such for almost a decade. On the fiftieth anniversary of the association we highlight the great achievements carried out, especially in the first decades of his life, as well as the impact that the work of the people who mobilized around the figure of Pau Casals had. They were difficult times for culture in our country.
Tell us about the beginnings of the Pau Casals Musical Association.
It all started as a result of two visits in 1964 and 1966 by entities from El Vendrell to Pau Casals in his exile of Prada de Conflent (a French town located in the department of the Pyrenees-Orientales). Likewise, in 1968, the famous French cellist Maurice Gendron, a disciple of Casals, came to his hometown on two occasions to honor him on his 92nd and 93rd birthdays, respectively. Since then, interest in the knowledge of the figure of Casals and the dissemination of him has grown, which was possible thanks to a small group of members of local entities and their effort and perseverance, led by the cultural activist Josep Altet. This group, which then began work to promote and organize concerts coinciding with Pau Casals' birth date, formed an association in April 1973.
On October 22 of the same year, Pau Casals died. It was the Pau Casals Musical Association that coordinated, a few days later, a massive funeral in El Vendrell. And this work of bringing together and coordinating civil society took place those years as a result of certain events related to the musician: the first of them, the visit of Marta his widow, a few months after his death, later the organization, together with the Pau Casals Foundation, of the centenary events in 1976. Three years later with the institutions, the reception and burial of the musician's mortal remains - let us remember that Pau Casals had expressed his desire to return to Catalonia when democracy had been reestablished .
Before you have referred to "great achievements."
In fact, the efforts of the Pau Casals Musical Association focused from 1980, and with the agreement of the Pau Casals Foundation, on promoting the construction of the well-known music auditorium in the maritime neighborhood of Sant Salvador and the adaptation of the square. annex presided over by the sculpture of Apollo, god of music, playing the cello, the work of Subirachs, also the Music School in El Vendrell and the commission to the sculptor Apel·les Fenosa to build a monument to Pau Casals, which today we can see at the entrance to Turó Park in Barcelona, initially planned for El Vendrell. The association created and managed the Pau Casals International Music Festival for a decade, which has been held every year since 1981 in the auditorium.
And after these great achievements, what sense does the Association have?
As a civil society entity, the Association has always been clear that its role is to supplement or complement, if applicable, that of the public administration. Today, as in those years and with voluntary work, it dedicates its efforts to putting its founding objectives into practice.
What are these objectives?
Promote knowledge of the figure of Casals - one of the most universal names in the culture of our country - and his legacy at all levels, both in the musical and humanistic fields, disseminating the values that he always defended. But also, in a broader sense, support the understanding of musical culture among the population, especially among the youngest.
What is the legacy of Pau Casals?
Musically he was not only a renowned cello player, but also an extraordinary conductor, composer and example for younger musicians. Humanistically, he considered music as the expression of his commitment to peace and the dignity of people, a musical concept of great validity along with the human values that he always defended.
What would stand out about your personality?
The firmness of convictions and the great coherence in his attitude. This is inseparable from the constant search for perfection in his daily work. I think his figure is not yet fully discovered.
Do you think the human dimension of Casals is sufficiently known?
Not enough is known nor do we do everything necessary for it, neither the citizens themselves nor the teachers nor the institutions. This is aggravated by the lack of resources, but also, and above all, by laziness or ignorance or lack of will. Certainly, activities are carried out to achieve this objective, but they are isolated and insufficient. In this sense, I want to highlight the work that, at a global level, is carried out by the Pau Casals Foundation - with which we regularly work - and, at a local and regional level, the work of our own entity.
What activities are the Association currently carrying out?
I will tell you the most important activities that take place during the year, carried out by our entity.
How do you finance the activities?
First, with the membership fees. With the Vendrell City Council we sign an agreement annually in which an amount is assigned that helps defray general expenses. For the concerts that we organize, we usually charge a price per location that is reduced or zero in the case of members. And for large events we request institutional collaboration, mainly from the Provincial Council of Tarragona.
What are your projects for the future?
First of all, continue with the work started in our mandate in 2020. However, we are going to strengthen our work with schools and training centers. We have also started a collaboration with the Prada village of Conflent. And in the longer term, we have to take these informative activities to the entire country, starting with the closest territory.
What measures is the Association taking to overcome these challenges?
We try to work together with the Pau Casals Foundation in what is common to us, also with local institutions and more specifically, with the Municipal School of Music. Three legs of the same table, allow me the simile. It is not an easy thing to maintain the necessary balance of the table.
Any anecdotes?
The anecdotes usually have something funny about them. The one I will tell you is a bit sad: a group of older boys and girls from El Vendrell who were playing in the street were asked if they knew who Pau Casals was. Some had no idea, others answered "a school." I think this complements what I explained to you about the knowledge of Pau Casals.
What message would you give to young people who are interested in classical music?
The same as any person interested in something: work, perseverance, tendency towards perfection, consistency in their actions. In short, a search for what Pau Casals practiced.
