The Liceu celebrates 25 years of the Petit Liceu with four new productions and a strengthened educational commitment

The Gran Teatre del Liceu is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Petit Liceu, its educational project aimed at family and school audiences, with a special programme running throughout the 2025/26 season.

Created with the aim of bringing opera closer to young audiences, the Petit Liceu has become a flagship initiative and the seed of the educational programme LiceuAprèn. With an innovative approach, LiceuAprèn has contributed to the development of a comprehensive programme that spans all ages, with a cross-disciplinary training plan committed to accessibility, learning, and inclusion.

To mark the anniversary, the Liceu is launching a season with four new productions, including The Young Aida on tour across the region in collaboration with the Òpera Catalunya Foundation; the active involvement of the Theatre’s Chorus and Orchestra; the international journey of David Selvas’s production Rossini’s Kitchen to Colombia; and the publication of an illustrated book by Albert Asensio. In addition, special initiatives and activities are planned throughout the region to strengthen the Theatre’s commitment to artistic education and universal access to culture.

The 25th anniversary of the Petit Liceu not only celebrates a well-established legacy, but also looks to the future with the desire to continue bringing music and the performing arts closer to new generations. This forward-looking vision is embodied in projects such as LiceuAprèn, which reinforce the Theatre’s commitment to artistic education and its roots in the local community.

La cuina de Rossini travels to Colombia

The show La cuina de Rossini, with stage direction by David Selvas and musical direction and adaptation by Andreu Gallén, premiered at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in the 2021/2022 season, will arrive in Colombia this July.

The Teatro Mayor in Bogotá expressed interest in bringing the production to Colombia, where the set design has been adapted and the cast and musicians are locally sourced. Selvas, Gallén, and Ana Pérez are currently working on site to adapt the staging.

A total of 10 performances will be held in Bogotá: 4 for family audiences (on July 5, 6, 12, and 13) and 6 free performances for schools (on July 9, 10, and 11) as part of the “100,000 niños al Mayor” project, which works with children from vulnerable backgrounds.

LiceuAprèn has adapted the show’s educational materials and delivered an online training session attended by around one hundred teachers.

Four new productions and three free performances for La Mercè

To mark the 25th anniversary of the Petit Liceu, the Gran Teatre del Liceu will premiere a total of four new productions in the 2025/26 season: Simfònic en família, Al cor del Liceu, and La jove Aïda, along with a new production of Trencanous-Jazz, which this season moves to the Main Hall (Sala Gran).

These new productions will run alongside the established repertoire (La cuina de Rossini, La barcarola, Miralls, La petita flauta màgica, La torre dels somnis, La nit de Sant Joan, El conte de Nadal de Charles Dickens, and IT Dansa).

The 2025/26 season at the Gran Teatre del Liceu will exceptionally begin with a performance of Òpera entre generacions before the official season opening on September 22. On September 20, an intergenerational performance of Janáček’s La petita guineu astuta will be offered at a price of €35, provided there is a minimum 20-year age gap between the two generations. Furthermore, as the first title of the season celebrating 25 years of the Petit Liceu, the production includes special pricing for all its performances to promote access to staged opera, with tickets available at half the regular price.

As the inaugural event of the Petit Liceu's 25th anniversary, the Liceu will present three free performances of La cuina de Rossini as part of La Mercè festivities, open to the entire public. Tickets will be distributed via a lottery, available from June 26 at 1 p.m. until September 11 at 11:59 p.m. through the Liceu website. The draw will take place on September 12, and winners will be notified via email with full details. A total of 1,200 tickets will be raffled for each session, and each winner may obtain up to four free tickets. Additionally, 300 tickets per performance have been reserved for families at risk of social exclusion.

On March 21, the Liceu Symphony Orchestra will present Simfònic en Família, an exceptional new opportunity for families to enjoy a quality symphonic concert, conducted by Maestro Josep Pons. This proposal is designed both for audiences experiencing the orchestral world for the first time and for those already familiar who want to deepen their experience.

The Liceu Choir will also join the celebration on May 28 with Al cor del Liceu, a new sensory show highlighting the human voice as an instrument capable of moving and uniting through great choral works from the repertoire and a dynamic staging. The show is directed by Marc Rosich (stage direction) and Pablo Assante (musical direction).

The new production La jove Aïda will tour Catalonia before arriving at the Liceu. This family opera will premiere on February 1, 2026, in Sant Cugat and will subsequently continue touring several venues in the Òpera Catalunya network, thanks to collaboration with the Òpera Catalunya Foundation (FOC). This proposal, accompanied by a comprehensive educational project, will reach the Gran Teatre del Liceu during the 2026/27 season, while continuing its territorial tour.

La jove Aïda offers a reinterpretation of Verdi’s emblematic Aida with arrangements, adaptation, and musical composition by Marian Márquez that combine the essence of the original opera with new compositions. The staging and dramaturgy by Jordi Casanovas explore the limits between reality and fiction, placing the work within a retro-futuristic aesthetic inspired by early video games. The visual artistic direction is by Onionlab, which through digital scenography pays homage to the iconic stage designs of Mestres Cabanes. Daniel Perpiñán is the musical director of the show.

As a novelty, this year also features a new production of Trencanous-Jazz, which will be performed in the Main Hall (Sala Gran) due to the great reception it had since its premiere in the 2021/22 season at the Foyer. The new Trencanous-Jazz is a production based on the same idea and jazz adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s work, creating a show that connects with the most magical elements of Tchaikovsky’s ballet, where movement and dance are the main protagonists. The stage direction will again be by Joan Maria Segura, who this time will work with Marc Salicrú and Marta Rafa. The musical direction and performance will be by the Liceu Conservatory.

Additionally, next season, the LiceuOpera+ platform will incorporate both historic productions of El Petit Liceu and more recent titles, which will be revealed throughout the season.

25 years of La petita flauta màgica

The year 2025 also marks a very special anniversary: La petita flauta màgica celebrates 25 years since its premiere at the Gran Teatre del Liceu. Directed for the stage by Joan Font (Comediants) and featuring music by Mozart, this adaptation has become an undisputed classic of the family programming, with nearly 400 performances at the Liceu and over 500,000 spectators since its premiere on March 9, 2001. It has also toured 51 cities in Catalonia, Spain, and Bogotá, attracting a total audience of 126,987.

The production has served as an introduction to opera for multiple generations, moving thousands of children and families. Now, coinciding with this anniversary, the Liceu bids farewell to this production with pride and gratitude—not as an ending, but as a celebration and a step forward towards new artistic languages, values, and perspectives on childhood and the stage.

To commemorate this beloved journey, a celebration will take place on November 30, with the presence of Joan Font, members of the cast from over the years, and several surprises for the audience. A magical farewell and a forward-looking celebration.

The creation of the new Educational and Social Advisory Council

The commemoration has led to the creation of a new Educational and Social Advisory Council (CAES) at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, currently composed of 12 experts from various fields related to education, culture, inclusion, and social innovation. The CAES aims to analyze, from multiple perspectives, the social and educational realities of the environment through values such as diversity, inclusion, and equity, in order to align them with the objectives, performances, activities, and pedagogical and social proposals of LiceuAprèn and LiceuApropa. It will also evaluate current projects from these diverse perspectives to ensure they fully address the present needs of our society.

The main functions of the CAES are: continuous advisory support to the Liceu’s management on educational and social matters, needs analysis, awareness raising, proposal development, project follow-up, and evaluation. This consultative and advisory body is composed of individuals who, through their knowledge and experience and from diverse backgrounds, can contribute opinions, insights, reflections, perspectives, and added value to the educational and social projects of the Gran Teatre del Liceu.

The first meeting of the inaugural CAES was held on April 30, with a mandate lasting four seasons. Its members are: Enric Arqués (President of the Mental Health and Addictions Forum); Begoña Román (philosopher and professor at UB); Aina Tarabini (sociologist and professor at UAB); Fàtima Ahmed (founder of Diàlegs de Dona); Manel Gasch (Abbot of Montserrat); Assumpció Malagarriga (educator and cultural manager); Joan Subirats (professor and former Minister of Universities); Irene Rigau (teacher, psychologist, and former minister); Natàlia Garriga (former Minister of Culture); Albert Guinovart (pianist and composer); Ester Bonal (music educator and choir director); and a representative of the Third Social Sector Board.

The Petit Liceu in numbers

Over the past 25 years, El Petit Liceu has presented a total of 44 productions aimed at children and young audiences: 25 in-house, 9 external productions, and 9 co-productions.

Since the first performance, La serva padrona, premiered on February 14, 2000, a total of 1,740,329 children and young people have experienced the magic of El Petit Liceu in 1,973 performances.

The 2025/26 season of El Petit Liceu will include 12 productions, with 8 revivals of familiar titles and 4 new productions. A total of 71 performances are scheduled: 36 for schools and 35 for family audiences, in addition to performances of La jove Aïda across different theatres throughout the country.

Regarding family audiences, the 2024/25 season featured 25 family workshops, with 2,301 participants. For the upcoming season, 27 workshops will take place at the Liceu, in addition to those offered in regional theatres hosting La jove Aïda family performances. These workshops give children a preview of the show through active listening to musical excerpts, encouraging interaction between parents and children through expression and movement. Led by artists connected to the Liceu, the workshops also aim to inspire playful and communicative moments within the family environment, fostering shared experiences through music.

As for schools, El Petit Liceu ends the 2024/25 season with a 94.03% occupancy rate of its educational offering. A total of 33,079 students from 518 schools attended one of the performances.

Looking ahead to the next season, the Liceu will offer schools 11 productions with 36 performances at the theatre, along with 5 performances of La jove Aïda on tour, for a total of 32,986 available seats.

In addition, 10 projects or programmes will be launched that involve a more direct and ongoing connection with educational centres, all based on a shared methodology and structure.

Educational programmes for schools and across the region

On June 27, registration will open for the educational programmes through La Cultivadora, the new platform jointly promoted by the educational services of the six national institutions: L’Auditori, the TNC, the Palau de la Música Catalana, the Mercat de les Flors, the Teatre Lliure and the Gran Teatre del Liceu.

Among the projects and programmes offered to schools, the following stand out:

Project La nit de Sant Joan. Designed as a comprehensive educational project, in collaboration with the Diputació de Barcelona to promote the professional development of young dancers. It includes prior training for teachers and classroom workshops with the dancers before the performance.

Tàndem Project. A three-year partnership with the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera and the Oms i de Prat School of Manresa, to support the faculty in enhancing its educational approach through music and the performing arts.

Project with rural schools. This year, it will take place in schools in Alt Urgell and marks the fifth edition of a programme that has already reached Terres de l’Ebre, les Garrigues, el Ripollès and Central Catalonia. Since 2021, it has involved 54 schools, 4,946 students and 1,650 teachers.

Programmes in Barcelona’s neighbourhoods and districts. Continued participation in the Apadrina el teu equipament project by the Fundació Tot Raval with local schools. A new two-year collaboration with schools in Sant Andreu as part of the community opera project Òpera Prima 2, a follow-up to La Gata Perduda, reinforcing the link between community creation and education.

Educational project for La jove Aïda in the region. The regional tour of La jove Aïda will be accompanied by an educational programme designed in collaboration with local theatres and municipal educational departments. Participating schools will be involved in a learning process connected to the production.

Programme La vida en general. A new project for secondary school students aimed at opening the path to repertory operas, with the goal of providing tools for teachers to incorporate opera as an interdisciplinary and creative resource. This programme connects operas to relevant youth topics through talks and will launch next season with L’elisir d’amore (reflection on substances and perception of reality); Manon Lescaut (social pressure and appearances); and Werther (extreme emotional states).

Teacher training plays a key role across all these programmes. In the 2025/26 season, nearly 250 hours of training recognised by the Department of Education will be offered, most of them linked to the above-mentioned projects.

Illustrated book presentation: My Name is Liceu, by Albert Asensio

Illustrator Albert Asensio is the author of the first illustrated book about the Liceu, designed for children and audiences of all ages. Co-published with Nórdica, the Liceu has promoted this book as a poetic journey to discover the Theatre from within. A living memory of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, told in the first person, revealing memories, emotions and secrets through the stories that have shaped its soul and iconic spaces. My Name is Liceu is scheduled to be released at the beginning of the upcoming season.

LiceuAprèn: an educational and transformative perspective

Following the legacy of a tradition of children’s shows promoted by Petit Liceu, the Theatre’s educational project, LiceuAprèn, has been working for several years on developing a comprehensive program that embraces all ages. With a transversal training plan, the project focuses on accessibility, learning, and inclusion as fundamental pillars.

All initiatives of LiceuAprèn are based on the idea of a journey: transforming the one-time experience of watching a show into a sustained learning process. Far from fast and ephemeral consumption, it aims to value time, preparation, and deepening, encouraging reflection around the lived experience. The show is conceived as an experience capable of inspiring processes of expression, creativity, and thinking, while the global nature of opera allows learning to be approached from multiple fields of knowledge.

One of the program’s highlights is Liceu als centres, which supports schools in educational processes linked to the shows, with training sessions, artistic workshops, and didactic resources.

With honest commitment and the conviction that culture can improve people’s lives, the Liceu aims for a qualitative relationship with its audiences, going beyond simple ticket sales: it is not enough to get them to come, but to ensure their experience has the greatest impact. To achieve this, the Theatre establishes shared mediation with families and teachers, who accompany children and young people in their vital and educational processes, becoming essential allies to give continuity and meaning to the artistic experience.

LiceuAprèn acts in various areas: creating shows for children and youth, training activities, projects linked to the artistic programming, and collaborations with individuals, entities, and institutions. The goal is to enrich the artistic experience and foster cooperation and shared knowledge.

In just five years, the LiceuAprèn program will have premiered eleven new productions (La barcarola, El monstre al laberint, Miralls, Trencanous-Jazz, La nit de Sant Joan, La cuina de Rossini, La Torre dels Somnis, La jove Aïda, Simfònic en família, Al cor del Petit Liceu).

Project of support and professional integration with the Conservatori del Liceu and the Fundació de Música Ferrer-Salat: Thanks to the collaboration agreement signed in the 2021/22 season between the Fundació de Música Ferrer-Salat, the Fundació Conservatori Liceu, and the Gran Teatre del Liceu, nearly 60 musicians from the Conservatori del Liceu have participated in eight productions of the educational and family program, totaling 44 performances. This project contributes to the creative and musical excellence of the shows, while promoting the transition to professionalization and labor insertion of young musicians, supporting them in their artistic journey and highlighting emerging talent. The eight productions include: El conte de Nadal, La cuina de Rossini, Trencanous-Jazz, La nit de Sant Joan, La torre dels somnis, El monstre al laberint, and Microòperes (2 productions).

In the field of participatory creation, the Liceu has promoted in recent years El monstre al laberint, a community-involved choral opera project, which is now evolving into Del laberint als somnis, a new proposal with a transformative vocation aimed at the adolescent audience. This project connects 25 educational centers throughout Catalonia and involves more than a thousand students just this season.

One of the novelties of recent seasons is the premiere of Òpera entre generacions, with tickets at €35, which started last season with La Cenerentola and returns this season with Rusalka. Next season, exceptionally and on the occasion of this anniversary, it will open with an intergenerational performance on September 20, before the official start of the season, with La petita guineu astuta. This proposal aims to foster the transmission of knowledge and emotion between generations through opera.

With the collaboration of:

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