New Organ Series at Barcelona Cathedral Unveiled

The new season brings together some of the most prominent names on the European organ scene, such as Lorenzo Ghielmi, Thomas Ospital, Andrés Cea, Lucie Žáková, and Johannes Skudlik, alongside musicians connected to Catalonia’s musical heritage, such as the Benedictine monk Jordi-Agustí Piqué, as well as new generations represented by Miquel Carr Sitjà, a former altar boy at Montserrat.

In addition, the collaboration with the National Center for the Promotion of Music (CNDM) is being renewed through its program The Organ in Cathedrals, which this season will feature a concert by French organist Thomas Ospital on February 17, 2027, further enhancing the series’ national and international reach.

Change of venue for the first 3 concerts and tickets

The first three concerts in the series—from October through December 2026—will take place in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, featuring the organ attributed to Josep Boscà, built in 1712, to coincide with the restoration work on the naves’ vaults, which is currently affecting the cathedral’s main organ. This unique circumstance will also shape the programming for the first three concerts. Lorenzo Ghielmi will share his first recital with violinist Anna Maddalena Ghielmi; Andrés Cea will perform the second concert as a soloist; and Jaime González-Sierra will close out this first segment of the season alongside sacabochist Ramon Marquès. Two dialogues between the organ and historical instruments, along with a solo recital, will allow for an exploration of different facets of the Boscà and highlight the richness of the Cathedral’s organ heritage.

The change in venue for these first three concerts also entails a new admission procedure. The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament has a smaller capacity; therefore, interested members of the public must pick up printed invitations starting 10 days before each concert. These will be distributed in person at the Casa de la Almoina (Pla de la Seu, 7) until the allotted capacity is reached.

Concerts taking place starting in January 2027 will once again be open to the public without the need to pick up invitations in advance and will feature the Cathedral’s main organ.

Schedule

The concerts will take place on the third Wednesday of each month at 8:00 p.m.

Historic Organs

The organ at Barcelona Cathedral is one of the most important in Catalonia. Built in the 16th century and restored in 1994 by organ builder Gabriel Blancafort, it features 57 stops distributed across four manuals and a pedalboard. Thanks to its size and versatility, it allows for the performance of repertoire from different eras and styles, all of which are represented in this new edition of the concert series.

In the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament (also known as the “Chapel of the Holy Christ of Lepanto”), the Cathedral houses a historic positive organ from 1712, attributed to Josep Boscà. It was restored in 1974 by Gabriel Blancafort. The organ underwent a second restoration in 2019, led by Albert Blancafort with the participation of Óscar Laguna.

Artistic Program for the 37th Organ Series at Barcelona Cathedral

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 – 8:00 p.m. – LORENZO GHIELMI AND ANNA MADDALENA GHIELMI (Italy)

Father and daughter will share the stage in a concert that brings together two generations of musicians dedicated to historical performance practice. Lorenzo Ghielmi is one of the leading international authorities on Renaissance and Baroque music, particularly the organ and harpsichord works of J. S. Bach. He will be accompanied by violinist Anna Maddalena Ghielmi, a specialist in historical performance and a regular collaborator with renowned ensembles such as Il Giardino Armonico, Collegium Vocale Gent, and the Balthasar Neumann Orchester.

Wednesday, November 18, 2026 – 8:00 p.m. – ANDRÉS CEA (Spain)

An organist, researcher, and specialist in historical keyboard instruments, Andrés Cea is a leading figure with numerous publications on the performance of keyboard music and the history and aesthetics of the organ in Spain. He has performed at major festivals in Europe, the Americas, and Japan, and combines his artistic career with research, teaching, and consulting on restoration projects for historic organs.

Wednesday, December 16, 2026 – 8:00 p.m. – JAIME GONZÁLEZ-SIERRA AND RAMON MARQUÈS (Madrid-Barcelona)

Jaime González-Sierra, organist at the Pontifical Basilica of San Miguel in Madrid, trained at ESMUC with Óscar Candendo and Juan de la Rubia and is highly active as a soloist and collaborator with various vocal and instrumental ensembles. He will be joined by sacabochist Ramon Marquès, who trained at ESMUC and the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, is a regular collaborator with numerous early music ensembles, and is the founder of the Deliciæ Ensemble. Together, they present a dialogue between the organ and the sacabucho that highlights the rich timbre and expressive power of these instruments.

Wednesday, January 20, 2027 – 8:00 p.m. – LUCIE ŽÁKOVÁ (Spain – Czech Republic)

A Czech organist based in Spain, Lucie Žáková is currently the organist at the Basilica of San Miguel in Madrid. Trained in Prague, Hamburg, Paris, and Toulouse under some of Europe’s greatest organ masters, she has performed at prestigious festivals and concert halls throughout Europe, Japan, and Mexico, making a significant contribution to the promotion of the Czech organ repertoire. She balances her concert career with teaching and various projects aimed at promoting organ music.

Wednesday, February 17, 2027 – 8:00 p.m. – JORDI-AGUSTÍ PIQUÉ (Catalonia)

A monk at the Abbey of Montserrat, organist, composer, and Doctor of Theology, Jordi-Agustí Piqué is a leading figure in the fields of liturgical music and musical thought. Former director of the Montserrat Boys’ Choir, he has been highly active as a concert organist, composer, and teacher, performing throughout Europe and Asia and boasting a distinguished academic career. Since early 2025, he has served as the cloistered prior of Monte Cassino.