The Gran Teatre del Liceu celebrates the 25th anniversary of Petit Liceu with an educational season full of new features. The project, part of LiceuAprèn, includes productions such as La cuina de Rossini, Simfònic en Família, and La jove Aïda, along with new shows like Trencanous-jazz and La Torre dels Somnis. Classics such as La Petita Flauta Màgica and Miralls also remain, reaffirming the Liceu’s commitment to bringing opera closer to all audiences.
This season, the Liceu celebrates 25 years of Petit Liceu, a project born with the goal of bringing opera closer to young audiences and which has become the seed of the educational initiative LiceuAprèn. A programme that brings together all of the Liceu’s educational activities, reaffirming our strategic commitment to make opera accessible to everyone and to highlight its transformative power in society. A quarter of a century later, this project remains one of the Institution’s great challenges, thanks to its ability to adapt to the evolving demands of society and education.
This season, new productions will coexist with the established programme and a series of initiatives designed by LiceuAprèn to mark the celebration:
To kick off the celebration, Petit Liceu will offer three free performances of La cuina de Rossini as part of the Festes de la Mercè. In March, the Liceu Symphony Orchestra will present Simfònic en Família, a family concert specially designed for audiences of all ages to enjoy a unique and unforgettable experience.
The Liceu Choir also joins the celebration in May with Al cor del Liceu, an immersive and intimate show that invites audiences to travel to the very heart of opera through major choral pieces and a dynamic staging. Additionally, in collaboration with the Òpera a Catalunya Foundation and also to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Petit Liceu, the family opera La jove Aïda will tour across Catalonia before arriving at the Liceu next season. As a novelty, this year also brings a new production of Trencanous-jazz, which will move to the Sala Gran.
The segment for younger audiences includes the shows La Petita Flauta Màgica, La Cuina de Rossini, La Barcarola, and Miralls. La Petita Flauta Màgica, the classic of the children and family programme, will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2025 since its premiere, with over 460,000 spectators having enjoyed this production featuring Mozart’s music and stage direction by Joan Font (Comediants).
La cuina de Rossini, directed by David Selvas with musical direction and adaptation by Andreu Gallén, tells the story of two young characters, Ross and Isabella, who embark on a journey of friendship and discovery into a fascinating world that leads them to Rossini’s operas. Through this story, the production explores values such as a passion for music and healthy eating habits.
With La Barcarola, young children are taken on a musical and visual journey featuring a selection of opera arias specially arranged to appeal to young audiences. The stage direction is by Juan Pablo Mendiola and the musical direction is led by Francesc Valldecabres.
Through dance and music, the show Miralls offers children a sensory experience of connection and closeness. It is a symbolic journey from self-discovery to exploring the elements of nature, with the mirror as the central thread. The production is directed by Miquel Gené and Quim Serra and includes well-known opera arias, instrumental pieces, and an original theme of the same name.
In recent years, the Liceu has been developing age-specific productions for young audiences, such as El monstre al laberint, El Conte de Nadal de Charles Dickens, La nit de Sant Joan, or La Torre dels somnis, a new production that will premiere this coming June and will return in the new season.
La Torre dels Somnis is a large-scale production directed by Lluís Danès that combines opera with the art of circus and poetry. This operatic proposal, featuring music by Puccini and a dramaturgy that elevates dreams and utopias, tells the story of the final clash between reality and the impossible beings that inhabit the tower.
El Conte de Nadal will once again bring the Christmas spirit of Charles Dickens to the stage, featuring music by Albert Guinovart, sand art by Borja González, the Orquestra Simfònica del Liceu, the VEUS – Cor Infantil Amics de la Unió children’s choir, and vocal soloists.
La nit de Sant Joan is a dance production based on Robert Gerhard’s Soirées de Barcelone, with a libretto by Ventura Gasol. Soirées de Barcelone is Gerhard’s second ballet composition, a piano work inspired by Catalan traditional music, where one can easily recognize folk dances and melodies. Antonio Ruz, in a symbolic and creative way, infuses the choreography with elements that connect us to our traditions, such as the symbolism of fire, the sardana, castells, or mythical bestiary figures.
The Liceu continues its collaboration with the young company from the Institut del Teatre, IT Dansa, under the direction of Catherine Allard, which will be presented at the Teatre-Auditori Sant Cugat.
La cuina de Rossini, Trencanous-jazz, La Torre dels Somnis, El Conte de Nadal de Charles Dickens, and La nit de Sant Joan feature musicians associated with the Conservatori del Liceu – Fundació Ferrer Salat.