BARCELONA.- Director of orchestra Venezuelan Gustavo Dudamel received the honorary title of Amic de Barcelona from the hands of the mayor of the Spanish city, Jaume Collboni.
In a speech in which he constantly appealed to the transformative power of culture and music, he expressed his gratitude for the recognition of the city and for being able to share with it the conviction of the vital importance of culture in building a better world.
Dudamel stressed that art and music are not made just to entertain. “We create and share beauty to connect, talk and listen to each other,” he said.
The conductor stressed that he has always felt at home in Barcelona and believes he has a connection with it long before being there, with the wonderful values instilled in him by his mentor José Antonio Abreu.
He also celebrated his long relationship with Barcelona institutions such as the Palau de la Música, the Gran Teatre del Liceu and L’Auditori and praised Barcelona’s architecture, human warmth and gastronomy.
“I am infinitely grateful to call you friends and to be a friend of your extraordinary city,” said Dudamel, who advocated for sharing the beauty, joy and hope that music and culture offer.
Shared values between Gustavo Dudamel and Barcelona
The Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, stressed that music is part of the city’s identity, and stressed the values that the city shares with musicians, such as the culture of peace, social justice and music as an element of transformation.
Collboni underlined the mutual love that is born from shared values between Dudamel and Barcelona and recalled that season after season he brings his proposals to the Catalan capital in front of a loyal public that loves him.
In a comment, the director of the Palau de la Música, Joan Oller, highlighted that Dudamel has revolutionised orchestral conducting due to his relationship with the musicians and the energy he transmits, while the musical director of the Liceu, Vctor Garcia de Gomar, described him as daring, intelligent, sensitive, a fighter and simple.
The award ceremony for the title of Amic de Barcelona ended on Wednesday with a small performance by the musical association Vozes for the integration of vulnerable children and adolescents through music, to which Dudamel joined on the violin.
FUENTE: Europa Press
