The Liceu closes the season with 265,000 spectators and recovers pre-pandemic figures

The Gran Teatre del Liceu has approached full normality in this 2021-2022 season, with almost 265,000 spectators, only 5% less than in the last one before the pandemic, that of 2018/2019, when there were 278,000 spectators. In this way, it has managed to close the season with more than double the audience than in the previous one, that of 2020/2021, when 124,000 tickets were sold, and 50% more than in 2019/2020, when there were 175,000. Pending definitive figures, the cultural institution expects to close the season maintaining economic balance with a budget of 46.6 million euros.

The recovery has also been noted in the occupancy of the performances, in which the capacity restrictions of previous seasons have largely been left behind. The overall occupancy achieved in more than 200 performances has been around 80% and some titles have had occupancies of around 95% or higher, such as Orpheus in concert version directed by René Jacobs, Le Nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni, directed by Marc Minkowski, with two sold-out performances, or David McVicar's production of The Magic Flute directed by Gustavo Dudamel, which also sold out the last four performances.

Tourists have once again been seen at the Rambla theater, but they are still far from pre-pandemic figures, when they represented one in five spectators. Specifically, the Liceu's seats have been occupied by twice as many tourists, both Spanish and from other European countries, as in the last season, reaching 11%. This has been accompanied by a reduction in the weight of the Barcelona audience, which in the 2020/2021 season came to represent 60%. This season, locals have once again represented half of the audience.

The 2021-2022 season has also been characterized by the beginning of the celebration of the Liceu's 175th anniversary. The anniversary has begun to be celebrated with milestones such as the 175th anniversary concert, held on April 3. Essential voices of the theater such as Sondra Radvanovsky, Lisette Oropesa, Ludovic Tézier and Michael Fabiano starred in the evening, which practically filled the entire main hall of the theater. On the occasion of the anniversary, the Government distinguished the Gran Teatre del Liceu Foundation with the Creu de Sant Jordi.

The next season, which will continue commemorating the 175th anniversary, will begin with Donizetti's Don Pasquale on September 21, with a preview concert on the 20th conducted by Dudamel. Another surprise of the next academic year will be the doors designed by Jaume Plensa for the main facade, imbuing his style and universe into one of the city's most emblematic spaces.

The celebration of all the years lived during this season ---and the next one--- has been accompanied by the definition of future projects, such as the revalidation of Víctor Garcia de Gomar as artistic director or the new Liceu Mar. The cultural institution is defining a second venue in Port Vell, a project that has garnered the approval of the City Council and the port. The America's Cup celebration has delayed plans, considering that the Imax Port Vell, the chosen space, will be allocated to one of the competing teams and its demolition and the construction of the new Liceu home will have to wait.