The origin of the Chopin Festivals in Majorca: A “civilizing” activity with a Noucentista influence

Authors

  • Ginebra Olives Calbet Societat Catalana de Musicologia

Keywords:

Frédéric Chopin, Noucentisme, Majorca, Volksgeist, Neoclassicism

Abstract

The Chopin Festivals in Majorca emerged in an intellectual atmosphere marked by the influence of Catalan Noucentisme. Their creator, Joan Maria Thomàs, followed “L’ideal mallorquí” (the Majorcan ideal), Miquel Ferrà’s program to “elevate” the soul of Majorca and, at the same time, to show abroad its cultivated spirit. An analysis of the documentary archive on the festivals shows how their producers’ discourse, which was an example of the so-called arbitrary poetics, integrated the figure of Frédéric Chopin into the history of the island through a link with its landscape and its religion. In this way, they turned the memory of his visit into a reason for musical activity and a great lure for cultural tourism. What’s more, the programs and reviews of the concerts projected the aesthetic values of musical Neoclassicism and the social values of the elites.

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Published

2023-11-30

Issue

Section

Articles