The words of Josep Lagares about Llull

In early 2004, my father Narcís and I pondered the dilemma of the future of small countries, so often engulfed in a globalised world in which these unique and individual identities are finding it increasingly difficult to make their voices heard, demand respect and recognition and, above all, assert the values of their cultures.

With this vision in mind, we set ourselves a great challenge: to use the universal (and spiritual) language of music to create an opera with a highly creative plot, great musical quality and complexity, an emotional spirit and a global reach, and, above all, one that would express the Catalan identity... basically, an instrument of cultural transmission capable of conveying the essence of Catalonia, of the Mediterranean, of our people, of our history, of our culture to all the different peoples of the world and the generations to come.

Enthused about the project, Francesc Cassú and Jaume Cabré took up this great challenge of ours. The following years (2005-2009) were very intense in terms of work, generosity, support and emotions until, in January 2010, Francesc and Jaume presented us with the final libretto and score for Llull, an opera in a prologue and two acts with a leading character, Ramon Llull, playing a key role in the history of relations between the cultures, religions and peoples of the Mediterranean, and introducing a theme and context that are both indisputably Catalan, international and current.

The celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Simfònica de Cobla i Corda de Catalunya and the release of its tenth album, as well as the success it garnered for Cançó d’amor i de guerra in 2017, made us realise that the long-awaited moment had arrived. Like a fine wine that has aged in the barrel for more than eight years, the time has come to taste it... the moment has arrived for Llull.

On behalf of the entrepreneurial family I have the honour of representing, I sincerely hope that you enjoy the power and the emotion of Llull, which on its premiere reminds us, more than ever, of our cultural and spiritual roots, as well as of the inalienable rights of freedom and progress.

Josep Lagares