Francisco Gaudier: "La Rambla will always be touristy, but we must spruce it up"

Gaudier is very detail-oriented and has put all his effort into polishing all the rooms of the building he manages, always without forgetting that it is one of the most traditional places in the city. The two most relevant novelties on the main floor that houses the Círculo del Liceo are the opening of the president's office and the new lighting in La Rotonda, decorated at the beginning of the 20th century by Ramon Casas with twelve spectacular oil paintings.

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"In the president's office is the history of the house. In addition to the original furniture, there is the guestbook and photographs of all the presidents. I think it's a very good idea for people to see this office which has been preserved in very good condition. Regarding the Ramon Casas Room, we have had the sponsorship of Juan Uriach who hired Jordi Bometón, a former technician from Biosca y Botey, and who has installed LEDs that are manipulated with a system that allows moving the spotlights by computer. The material for the new lighting has had a very high cost, hence the importance of private patronage."

Casas's twelve canvases inspired by musical themes are one of the jewels of the Círculo and the members know very well that it was a miracle that they were saved in the 1994 fire in which the Liceo was declared a total loss. Many retinas preserve the image of firefighters removing the modernist artist's paintings in perfect condition. Each of the works is a delight. Observing the headlights of the car driven by a woman, something unusual at that time, with the pavilion of the Círculo del Liceo at the 1888 Universal Exhibition in the background, is an unforgettable experience…

Inseparable neighbors

The Círculo would not be understood without its neighbor El Gran Teatre del Liceu. "We have always had an optimal relationship. The Círculo opened six months later, on November 20, 1847, and since then they have walked together. It was inaugurated by the patrons who gave the money to build the Liceo because they were looking for a place to meet." And regarding comparisons with the Círculo Ecuestre, Gaudier emphasizes that "this house has always been very linked to culture and they are more linked to the business world."

Currently, the Círculo has one thousand twenty members. "The initiative that worked very well was the recruitment campaign with which we gained 300 new members; it started two years ago and ended in October. A member could bring a friend without paying the entrance fee, and this encouraged many people." The entrance fee is 4,500 euros, and the annual membership fee is 1,080 euros. There are special rates for Gran Teatre del Liceu subscribers, for those under forty, and for children of members.

Revolution in the house

Gaudier revolutionized the activity agenda. "Before the pandemic, we had many in-person activities, and with COVID, many of them could be done via Zoom. For example, the online conferences accompanied the members and were an important way to stay in touch during the months we were closed."

The terrace was the star of the summer. "With the pandemic, we thought about what we could offer them and organized the terrace in two months. We did a small renovation to place a refrigerator and opened in June. The Círculo's terrace is here to stay. From the rooftop, you can see Tibidabo and Montjuïc, privileged views. Here the service is always the same, and that generates a sense of protection. We want to open it to the public at the end of May, but it will depend on the weather. The intention is to keep it open until October."

One of the important services is catering. "We have always had an external catering service, and for a year now, the kitchen has been run by Mantequerías Pirenaicas, which offers a weekly menu and also a dish of the day. With the time restrictions, everything has become complicated, but we have reinvented ourselves and have tried offering breakfasts and appetizers."

The club's finances are healthy. "Zero subsidies. We are self-sufficient and have a good financial cushion. Income comes from membership fees, space rentals, and exhibitions." A first exhibition in 2016, on the occasion of the Casas Year, opened the floodgates. "The first exhibition was Ramón Casas', which attracted many people who had never set foot in the Círculo; now we have one by Alexandre de Riquer, and in the future, we have a Masriera exhibition planned."

La Rambla without mass tourism is the dream of any Barcelona native, and the pandemic makes us rethink the ideal model for this internationally known promenade. "Years ago it lost its appeal for me and its degradation is unquestionable. I walk up and down La Rambla but I don't stop; there are no shops or businesses that attract me. The only place was Restaurant Amaya… La Rambla will always be touristy, but the City Council has to spruce it up; changing habits is going to be very complicated," he concludes. Gaudier was the founder of Comercial Importadora Gafa, the distribution company for Sebago shoes.