Robert Gerhard: del Palau al Món

Robert Gerhard (1896-1970) transformed his Catalan roots into a musical language of universal reach, understanding creation as a space of freedom, intellectual commitment and national construction. The Palau de la Música Catalana was a key stage in this trajectory, hosting some of his first works and, especially, the concert of 14 December 1929, which marked his presentation in Catalonia after his studies with Arnold Schönberg and the consolidation of a renewing language.The bond with the Palau was strengthened by the 1936 Festival of the International Society for Contemporary Music, of which Gerhard was one of the main promoters. That event placed Barcelona at the centre of European avant-gardes and exemplified his will to open Catalan culture to the most innovative currents without renouncing its own identity.The exile after the Civil War cut short this project, but from Cambridge Gerhard continued to develop a work of international scope, keeping his bond with Catalonia alive. His trajectory symbolises the capacity of Catalan culture to project itself to the world and to turn tradition into a modern, open and universal expression.This exhibition will form part of the Robert Gerhard Biennial, which will be held in Barcelona and Valls between 30 September and 22 November 2026.