Barcelona Opera House Reopens To A Sold-Out Audience Of Potted Plants!
Language
Reading Level
Listen to Article
Spain's three-month-long lockdown order imposed to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic was finally lifted on June 22, 2020. To celebrate the joyous occasion, the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Spain — one of Europe's oldest and most famous opera houses— staged its first live performance since mid-March. While every seat was occupied, there was not a human to be found. Instead, the sold-out audience comprised 2,292 potted plants carefully selected from local nurseries.
Featuring the UceLi Quartet, the performance, made available to human listeners via live-stream, was a prelude to the opera house's upcoming 2020-2021 season. In a nod to its leafy audience, the string quartet played a moving performance of Giacomo Puccini's "Crisantem" or "Chrysanthemums." Inspired by the beautiful yellow flowers, it is among a handful of instrumental works — and one of only four compositions for string quartet — penned by the famous Italian opera composer. Written in a single night, the musical arrangement pays tribute to King Amadeo of Spain — a close friend of Puccini's — who died in 1890.
Unfortunately for the musicians, the audience was unable to give the mesmerizing eight-minute-long performance the standing ovation it deserved. However, its resounding "applause" — the sound of leaves and branches blowing — could be heard across the opera house.
Eugenio Ampudia, who came up with the brilliant idea of the unusual audience, said he was inspired by nature during the pandemic lockdown. The Spanish artist says, "I heard many more birds singing. And the plants in my garden and outside growing faster. And, without a doubt, I thought that maybe I could now relate in a much intimate way with people and nature."
Following the concert, the "guests" were gifted to 2,292 healthcare workers at the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona. The opera house officials said they wanted to show their appreciation for the brave men and women who have served "on the toughest front in a battle unprecedented for our generations."
Resources: NPR.org, theGuardian.com.
Cite Article
Learn Keywords in this Article
134 Comments
candyqween2010over 4 yearsWow that's so funny lol
renegade5over 4 yearsCool
busybeeover 4 yearsThe music sounds so good!!I play violin🎵🎵🎻
skybluecatover 4 yearsI mean, a packed audience of plants? Who could deney that?
rex-a-dogyover 4 yearsNot me!😃😄
- skybluecatover 4 yearsI like this
tacoman5432over 4 yearsI am amazed by the creativity that has been unleashed during the coronavirus pandemic such as this.
whywhouldyou45over 4 yearsThis is awesome i wish i was one of the plants!
animereina2021over 4 yearsThis is one of my favorite articles! I am thanking Meera Dolasia and everyone else's that makes these articles, because they are so good at it! I just want to spread kindness and say thank you to everyone of you. With out DOGO I would be out of my mind! It is a great site to be on, and I am VERY VERY grateful! Thank you so much! I am thanking everyone, and I just wanted to say that I love every one of y'all!
goodvibesonly09over 4 yearsI would be crazy without DOGO its the PERFECT news artical for children and even adults! The regular news scares me so animerina2020 I agree with you 100%! Im thanking all of you for making my lives happy! 😊 Also animerina2020 and Beachvibes2020 just know I love you guys! And I love everyone else too! 💗
bookfan2009over 4 yearsYour so sweet @animerina2020! And I fully agree! Thank you DOGO team!
chiligirlover 4 yearsI bet it took hours to get all those plants in and out of there! And I agree and love what animereina2020 said! 🌱🌿🍃
- animereina2021over 4 yearsI thought this was kind of crazy at first, but now I am starting to understand... The people were very talented and must have missed playing music for people. They health care workers deserve those plants, I just wish that there were enough plants for every health care workers out there. It is a hard time for everyone, and COVID 19 has forever changed our lives, and the ways of our lives. I hope that you are all spending time with friends and family, and staying safe.
leiker1414over 4 yearsYea I'm at Great Wolf lodge right now- animereina2021over 4 yearsCool! I went there once!
effie302over 4 yearsCool! Looks really nice but that’s a lot of plants 🌱, lol