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© Dario Acosta
Lyrical Gala with Pretty Yende and Xabier Anduaga
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April 2026 | ||||||
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A Night of Bel Canto
If there is one outstanding fact in the history of our theater over its 178 years of existence, it is the love for the best voices. Two internationally recognized voices, beloved at the Liceu, such as Pretty Yende and Xabier Anduaga, will offer a recital together for the first time.
Pretty Yende debuted at the Liceu in the tribute for the 50th anniversary of Montserrat Caballé's debut at the Liceu in January 2012, and has returned several times, always with great success and leaving a lasting impression on the audience. We cannot forget her delightful Norina in Don Pasquale or her delicate Elvira in I puritani.
Xabier Anduaga is one of the most sought-after tenors of our time. He first gained recognition at the 2017 Viñas competition, where he won an official prize, and since his debut as Ernesto in Don Pasquale at the Liceu in the 2022-2023 season, he has carved out a special place among the Liceu audience.
The two voices come together to offer a recital centered around their repertoire, based on 19th-century Italian bel canto, in which they are reference figures. They will be accompanied by pianist Vanessa Garcia Diepa, who has a distinguished international career, performing recitals alongside the great voices of our time.
Program and cast
Soprano - Pretty Yende
Tenor - Xabier Anduaga
Piano - Vanessa García Diepa
Gran Teatre del Liceu
Barcelona's opera house, the Gran Teatre del Liceu, was founded on the Rambla in 1847 and has continued over the years to fulfil its role as a culture and arts centre and one of the symbols of the city.
Today it is publicly-owned (by the Government of Catalonia, Barcelona City Council, Barcelona Provincial Council and the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte) and administered by the Fundació del Gran Teatre del Liceu which, in addition to the aforementioned bodies, incorporates the Patronage Council and the Societat del Gran Teatre del Liceu (the old society of owners).
Origins: From 1837 to 1847
The Liceu evolved out of the Sociedad Dramática de Aficionados (Society of theatre-lovers) set up in 1837 at the instigation of Manuel Gibert in the former convent of Montsió by members of the National Militia, an organization of armed citizens with liberal leanings.
Barcelona's economy and population were growing fast at the time and the city needed a music conservatory. This led to the conversion of the Sociedad Dramática into the Liceo Filármonico Dramático Barcelonés de S.M. la Reina Isabel II (Barcelona Dramatic and Philharmonic Lyceum of HM Queen Isabel II). In addition to its theatrical activities, the new organization cultivated Italian-style singing and music.
The building on the Rambla
The original building was solemnly opened on 4 April 1847. The plans had been drawn up by Miquel Garriga i Roca, subsequently assisted by Josep Oriol Mestres. The project was funded by selling shares, which meant that many of the boxes and seats were to be privately owned. The shareholders formed the Societat del Gran Teatre del Liceu, known as the “Societat de Propietaris” (Society of Owners), which was in sole charge of running the Gran Teatre del Liceu from 1855 onwards, after it was legally separated from the Conservatori del Gran Teatre del Liceu.
The theatre was operated by impresarios who were given a concession to stage a specific number of productions in exchange for the proceeds from the sale of tickets not reserved for the Societat itself. This system was to endure until 1980.
The creation of the Consortium
By the last quarter of the 20th century this management system was no longer viable. In 1980, to avert the danger of the disappearance of an institution of such worldwide cultural renown, the Generalitat Catalonia's first government in modern times – set up a consortium, the Consorci del Gran Teatre del Liceu, which also incorporated Barcelona City Council and the Societat del Gran Teatre del Liceu. Barcelona Provincial Council joined the Consortium in 1985, followed by the Spanish Ministry of Culture in 1986. From then on the Consortium took over operation of the theatre.
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