Isabel Villanueva and Georgia Vardarou, Breaking Bach

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Image courtesy of Grec Festival de Barcelona.

Paul Hindemith was a German composer, violist, teacher, and conductor, recognized as a key figure in the musical scene between the two world wars. He was not only a performer and conductor, but also a notable music theorist. Hindemith’s work was strongly influenced by Bach, and on September 12, 1950 he delivered a lecture at the Bachfest in Hamburg to mark the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death. In that lecture, titled Johann Sebastian Bach. Heritage and Obligation, he shared his perspective on Bach’s work, famously stating: “Compared to Bach, any musician, even the most talented, is at a disadvantage.” Now, that lecture, translated into Spanish by Luis Gago, has inspired a performance that combines text with the master’s music, including pieces such as Partita No. 2, BWV 1004: Chaconne and In Form und Zeitmass einer Passacaglia (from Sonata No. 5, Op. 11). 

The concert will take place at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion, created by an architect who, like Hindemith, was German and forced to flee the Nazis. The musician, violist Isabel Villanueva, has been described as a performer who takes risks and is one of the most distinctive and transformative violists on today’s classical scene, exploring the traditional boundaries of the instrument and projecting a personal voice full of artistry and authenticity.

Dancer Georgia Vardarou, born in Athens and living in Barcelona since 2017, will deliver the text of the performance: Hindemith’s reflections on Bach’s universe. She trained in dance in Greece (Κ.Σ.Ο.Τ.) and later in Belgium at P.A.R.T.S., under Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker. As a choreographer, she focuses on personal movement, its content, and the inter-subjective perception of the body in motion.

Sounds of the City: Summer Music Festivals

What are your plans for summer? If you’re staying in the city, you won’t be alone. Barcelona is becoming a go-to destination for festival lovers, given Catalunya’s covetable combination of culture, great weather and an increasingly diverse concert circuit. So if you’re looking to expand your horizons while staying put this season, check out our article Sounds of the City: Summer Music Festivals for a summary of the summer music events taking place in Barcelona, from big-name gatherings to boutique takeovers.

For more music events check our online events calendar.