Institut Ramon Llull Yearbook 2012 Contents Introduction .................................................... 5 Focus 2012 ....................................................... 6 Ramon Llull Prizes ....................................... 12 Literature and the Humanities ................... 14 Performing Arts ............................................ 22 Film ............................................................... 28 Music .............................................................. 34 Visual Arts and Architecture ...................... 40 Language and Universities ........................ 44 Press and Communications ....................... 56 Budget .......................................................... 60 Governing Bodies ........................................ 62 Introduction In 2012 the Institut Ramon Llull celebrated its tenth anniversary. Enough time has elapsed to now pause and take stock of the IRL’s accomplishments to date, which we did through formal commemorative events held in Barcelona and Palma. With the perspective of time we are also now able to observe the exponential effect of the efforts made by the many individuals and teams working for and with the Institut. In this regard I would say that this tenth anniversary year has been an exceptional one for the Institut Ramon Llull, offering very satisfying results. Within a context where reducing costs was an utmost priority— and where we focused more on structural cutbacks than on limiting activities—our aims of amplifying exposure abroad of the Catalan culture, with the support of organizations in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, met with remarkable success on many fronts: Documenta in Kassel, the Avignon Festival, the Venice Biennale of Architecture, and the “Miro” exhibition at the National Gallery of Washington were this year’s most prominent activities. Alongside that, the network of Catalan Studies abroad has continued to expand as has the ongoing international presence of Catalan artists, performers, writers and scholars and their works. This year has also been important with regard to the Institut Ramon Llull’s institutional structure. Firstly, we formally joined efforts with the Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua to further encourage studies abroad of our shared language. In addition, though important steps were taken to incorporate the city councils of Barcelona and Palma in the Institut Ramon Llull consortium, the year ended with the Government of the Balearic Islands leaving the consortium. This was followed by the Barcelona City Council’s formal request to join it, with the clear approval of the Governing Board. While some of these changes in the Institut’s structure represent an important loss, other new doors have been opened. As of now, the Institut Ramon Llull will continue carrying out its mission to broaden the outreach of Catalan culture as a whole, and will also work together with the City Council to further consolidate Barcelona’s internationally recognized cultural prestige. A changed institutional structure and new opportunities came into play at the end of 2012 which we hope will positively shape events in 2013. Vicenç Villatoro Director Focus 2012 Celebration of the Institut Ramon Llull's Tenth Anniversary We Provide Support to Barcelona To celebrate its tenth anniver- Increase Knowledge Abroad sary, the Institut Ramon Llull worked together with the Mercat de les Flors to produce Indisci- of the Cultural Wealth of plines, a multidisciplinary piece. Coinciding with the start of the Catalonia and the Balearic Mercat’s autumn season, the opening was held on September 28, with additional performances Islands on September 29 and 30. Indisci- plines comprises a central show, The Institut Ramon Llull’s primary mission is to broaden Tranç, directed by Cesc Gelabert knowledge of and contact with Catalan culture in all and Isaki Lacuesta, which is a meshing of artistic disciplines of its forms and means of expression. This year we with the participation of artists and performers from different achieved that goal through cultural activities carried fields and generations. In addi- out at various international venues. The main points of tion, six individual pieces were included in the overall program: focus were: the United Kingdom (coinciding with the “ZA! + Los Corderos”; “Pere celebration of the Olympic Games in London); France; Faura + Aggetelek”; “Eulàlia Ayguadé + Joan Català + Jordi Italy (with the Venice Biennale of Architecture); and Molina”; “Eduard Escoffet + North America. The four settings featured a broad range Bradien”; “Marc Vives + Sònia Sánchez” ; and “Delrevés + Nu2 of events showcasing cultural projects and works from + Eloy”. There was a total of 27 Catalonia and the Balearic Islands. Another important performances of Indisciplines. activity was the centennial of Montsalvatge’s birth which was commemorated through programs held in five different cities. These initiatives allowed us to continue building on our cooperation and relationship with various venues and international institutions. In addition, this year the Institut Ramon Llull celebrated its tenth anniversary (2002-2012) with a variety of events in Barcelona and Palma. 6/7 Palma Xavier Montsalvatge Centennial The repertoire included works The Institut’s ten-year anniver- (Vienna, London, Berlin, New York by Montsalvatge, Mompou and sary commemoration in Palma and Bogotá) Toldrà. The series of concerts was held on October 12 with March 11, 2012 was the centennial was rebroadcast on the BBC3 a concert premiering musical of the birth of composer Xavier program In Tune. pieces based on texts by Ramon Montsalvatge (1912-2002). The Llull. These works, created Institut Ramon Llull, together Berlin for the occasion by recognized with the Associació Xavier Mont- A series of concerts was held Balearic Island composers An- salvatge created an extensive from October 23 to November toni Parera Fons, Miquel Àngel program of activities and concert 21 titled Augen wie Fenster zum Roig-Francolí and David León series in various cities. Meer hinaus: Zum 100. Geburtstag Fioravanti, were performed by Xavier Montsalvatges und anderen baritone Joan Pons (with piano Vienna Jubiläen katalanischer Kompon- accompaniment by Joana Pons), On May 15 a concert was held isten. Duo DS (violin and piano) organist Arnau Reynés and a at the Arnold Schönberg center performed in the small hall of the string quartet from the Orquestra featuring the Kandinsky Trio. Berlin Konzerthaus, with a pro- Simfònica de les Illes Balears. The group performed works by gram of pieces by Montsalvatge, Tenor Antonio Aragón was the Montsalvatge, Schönberg and Toldrà, Mompou and Cassadó. artistic director of the event. The Gerhard. In addition, a mas- Mezzosoprano Anna Alàs and pi- performance featured various ter class was held, as well as a anist Wolfram Rieger performed excerpts from Llull’s works, lecture focused on the Catalan in the main Konzerthaus hall, and selected by Joan Santanach, a composer. tenor Antoni Aragón together specialist in the field. The event with pianist Andreu Riera offered London took place in the Basilica de Sant a recital of works by Montsal- On November 8 the Homage to Francesc in Palma, where the vatge, Turina, Toldrà, Strauss and Catalunya event took place at father of Catalan literature is Dvořák in the Mendelssohn- the Guildhall School of Music & buried. Remise hall. Lastly, Teresa Via- Drama in London. This Catalan plana (piano) and Alicia García composer series included three (viola) performed a program of master classes that concluded works by Mompou, Falla, Mont- with three concerts. Participants salvatge and Toldrà at the Rotes in the event were soprano Alba Haus. The documentary Xavier Bosch Teixidor, pianist Anna Montsalvatge: Half Violin, a Seat Cardona, the Perseidas Ensem- and a Piano was also screened as ble and pianist Marisa Gupta. part of these programmed events. Focus 2012 New York Mateu (soprano) and Antoni City of London Festival The activities in New York formed Comas (tenor). The Cobla Sant Jordi - Ciutat part of an extended Montsalvatge de Barcelona performed at the Days program which carried on United Kingdom City of London Festival. The throughout the year. The opening London 2012 Olympic Games concert took place on June 29 at event of the centennial celebration 2012 was a very special year in Broadgate Circle and the event took place on November 12 at the the United Kingdom, as the city coincided with the celebration of Film Society of Lincoln Centre, of London hosted the Olympic the 20th anniversary of the Fun- where the documentary Xavier and Paralympic Games. In con- dació Universal de la Sardana. Montsalvatge: Half Violin, a Seat junction with this, an extensive The Cobla Sant Jordi - Ciutat de and a Piano was screened. Among program of activities took place Barcelona performed a selec- other events included in the under the umbrella of the Cul- tion of sardanes and cobla music celebration was the presentation tural Olympiad. The Institut Ra- from different periods and of at Steinway Hall of the biography mon Llull worked together with varying styles, including the U.K. Xavier Montsalvatge: A Musical various venues and institutions premiere of the work Fanfare and Life in Eventful Times, written to encourage a Catalan presence Fantasy for Catalonia, by British by American musicologist Roger in this cultural program: composer Tim Garland. Evans and the “Xavier Montsal- vatge” exhibition which opened Greenwich + Docklands Showtime on November