The work, published by the Memorial Democràtic and authored by historian Gemma Caballer Albareda, delves into a lesser-known aspect of Pau Casals: his involvement with the Spanish Refugee Aid (SRA), an American organization founded in 1953 by activist Nancy Macdonald to support Spanish exiles.
The book documents, using sources consulted in Catalonia and New York, the musician's active and continuous involvement with exiles until his death in 1973. It also traces the trajectory of the SRA and its founder, Nancy Macdonald, and the assistance provided to thousands of exiled individuals, primarily in France, offering financial aid, medical assistance, and material support.
The book presentation was chaired by the Minister of Justice and Democratic Quality, Ramon Espadaler. It included a dialogue between Gemma Caballer and Miquel Berga, professor of English literature at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, discussing the research findings and Pau Casals' relationship with the Spanish Refugee Aid.
Gemma Caballer Albareda is a historian, librarian, and researcher at the UNESCO Chair Pau Casals, specializing in humanitarian aid for refugees of the Spanish Civil War.
The event concluded with a performance by cellist Mariona Camats. It was organized by the Pau Casals Foundation and the Memorial Democràtic as part of the commemoration of Pau Casals' 150th anniversary.
