Poetic and Musical Tribute in Bellver de Cerdanya

The church of Sant Serni hosted a literary and musical event that evoked key figures of Catalan literature and the legacy of Pau Casals.

Interior of a church lit by spotlights, with a cellist performing before a blurred audience.
IA

Interior of a church lit by spotlights, with a cellist performing before a blurred audience.

The church of Sant Serni in Bellver de Cerdanya was the setting for a cultural event honoring Catalan poetry and the figure of Pau Casals, coinciding with literary commemorations.

The event was structured into three poetic segments. The first honored Clementina Arderiu, marking the 50th anniversary of her death, and Blai Bonet, celebrating the centenary of his birth, with six poems from each. The second segment featured authors from the six counties of Alt Pirineu: Xavi Gutiérrez (Val d'Aran), Father Anton Navarro (Alta Ribagorça), Meritxell Nus (Pallars Sobirà), Concepció G. Maluquer (Pallars Jussà), Josep Espunyes (Alt Urgell), and Jordi Pere Cerdà (Cerdanya).
The third segment focused on six authors from the Catalan Countries who have received the Premi d’Honor de les Lletres Catalanes (Honorary Prize for Catalan Literature), awarded by Òmnium Cultural: Biel Mesquida, Josep Piera, Josep Maria Llompart, Antònia Vicens, Enric Casasses, and Marta Pessarrodona.

"Between segments, the cellist Mireia Planas enlivened the event, paying tribute to Pau Casals, whose 150th birth anniversary we celebrate this year. The first piece performed was precisely 'El Cant dels Ocells,' which he helped to popularize."

Mireia Planas · Cellist
The reciters who brought the poems to life included Enric Quílez, Francesc Esteban, Meritxell Tubau, Anna Montané, Mercè Palau, Laia Pinto, M. Àngels Adam, Elvira Mata, and Olga Farré.
The event, organized by various local entities such as the Town Council of Bellver de Cerdanya, the Cerdanya Research Group, the Bellver Theatre Group, the La Moixa Theatre Association, Teatre Jove Bellver, and Òmnium Cultural Cerdanya, is traditionally held on the first Saturday after Sant Joan (Saint John's Day), commemorating the Summer Solstice. Afterwards, attendees enjoyed cake and muscatel wine outside the church.