"This year, at Perelada, we open the doors to paradise"

Oriol Aguilà has directed the Castell de Perelada Festival since 2010. Previously, he was linked to the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona for almost fifteen years, where he was director of patronage, raising funds for the reconstruction of the theater after the 1994 fire. During his direction at the Festival, he has stood out for his commitment to contemporary creation, the promotion of emerging talents, and collaboration with institutions such as the Liceu, the Palau de la Música Catalana, and L'Auditori. This orientation has allowed the festival to consolidate itself as one of the most important summer musical events in Catalonia, and Oriol, who is the country's most refined host, explains in this interview the novelties and history of the main opera festival in the entire State.

--- Let's start with a reference to the death of Miquel Suqué. I don't know if you want to make a mention...

--- The truth is that we are very affected because he was a beloved person, very committed, with a very exceptional profile and temperament. And these people really leave a void. They are people who leave a legacy, but also, when they are no longer here, especially when it is so recent, we can't quite believe it. But we have to make a virtue of necessity and, as he would have liked, move forward.

--- To what extent does the family group function compartmentalized, or is everything very interrelated?

--- It is a home and a family group and, therefore, the whole family lives the projects in a collegiate, joint manner. And a project like the Festival, which has almost four decades of life, makes everyone feel it as their own and everyone participates.

--- Let's talk a little about the history of the Festival, if you don't mind. How would you summarize its evolution?

--- The Perelada Festival is born with a very powerful seal. It is Montserrat Caballé who inspires Carmen Mateu and Artur Suqué to have a festival of excellence dedicated to lyrical music, opera, classical music, and dance in the Mediterranean. Caballé used to say "I have traveled all over the world, but few places are as exceptional to host a festival as Perelada." That idea is what she shares with the founders. The inauguration, in 1987, is with the orchestra and choir of the Teatre del Liceu, Mozart's Requiem conducted by Antoni Ros Marbà, with Caballé herself.

--- Impressive!

--- And already in the first year there was dance. Even before the festival, Rudolf Nureyev, Caballé herself, or Josep Carreras had performed. When Carreras overcame leukemia, his first public concert at a festival was in Perelada. 40 televisions from all over the world connected! Lady Diana Spencer was a guest!

--- Impressive! (bis)

---It was the perfect calling card. Perelada was already born on the international map.

--- And since then, how would you define the evolution of the Festival?

--- I would say that the Festival has always maintained excellence. It has been a space of maximum artistic ambition, and it has also managed to have its own project. Its own stamp. It is the reference festival for opera in the State, and also an essential space for dance. We have always opted for risk, for innovation, for creators. Also for what happens before and after the shows: the summer experience, a meeting point. This host spirit has inspired many other festivals, also from here. And we have been pioneers in our country in cultural philanthropy, in giving back to society with an artistic project.

--- What productions would you highlight from these years?

--- We have premiered more than 80 opera productions. Calixto Bieito's "Carmen", for example, 25 years ago, was one of our productions. Today it is still seen all over the world, even at the Paris Opera. We have also opened our doors to creators such as La Fura dels Baus, Comediants, Mario Gas, Rafael Villalobos… Often, we have invited them to do opera for the first time. And they will tell you: "Few places give us carte blanche like Perelada".

--- And with the other cultural institutions in the country? What is your relationship like?

--- The Liceu already inaugurated the Festival. Since then there has been permanent collaboration with the Liceu and with the Teatro Real de Madrid, or with the networks of theaters and festivals in the State and Southern Europe. Also with the Palau, L'Auditori, the TNC, the Barcelona and National Symphony Orchestra of Catalonia (OBC), the Youth Orchestra of the Girona Regions (JOCG) or the Vespres d'Arnadí orchestra. In the field of new creation, for example, we have given opportunities to Catalan composers who did not have them. Don Juan no existe, by Helena Cánovas, is a recent case. It premiered in Perelada and has now been seen at the Teatro Real, will be seen in Seville and also at the Liceu, which is a co-producer.

--- Let's talk about this year's edition. What is the common thread?

--- This year the motto is "Arcadia". Paradise. In such an unstable world, we want to reclaim the inner garden, our vital orchard, as a space of freedom and creation. We have In Paradisum with the Pregardien father and son, Genius Loci by Rafael Villalobos and Xavi Sabata, inspired by The Lost Garden by Jorn de Précy, and Hortgarden, a musical monologue with Helena Terrats and music by Mario Cortizo.

--- What else?

--- There will also be the debut of Joyce DiDonato; Angel Blue; Sonya Yoncheva with an album dedicated to George Sand; a tribute to William Christie; the Labèque sisters; dance with Lorena Nogal in the Perelada Winery designed by RCR Arquitectes; the Flamenco Ballet of Andalusia with Patricia Guerrero and a tribute to Conxita Badia with Montserrat Seró and Pau Codina, in dialogue with Pau Casals.

In such an unstable world, we want to reclaim the inner garden, our vital orchard, as a space of freedom and creation

--- It has been running for 10 years, and we already have 7,000 users in total. If you are a young person from Castelló d'Empúries and you think Perelada is not for you, we will find you. We put you in contact with your role models. This year, companies like Béjart or Maria Pagés have held workshops with students from dance schools. And now we have extended it to the whole year. We bring content to schools and high schools in Alt Empordà, also to rural centers.

--- But you also don't forget about internationalization, as with the invitation to the festival in Finland.

--- Exactly. We are going to Finland, to the Savonlinna Festival, to present The Fairy Queen by Purcell, directed by Dani Espasa, Joan Anton Rechi and Xavi Sabata, and with the O Vos Omnes choir.

--- –To finish: what is the life of a festival director like?

---A combination of short and long term. You have to have your head in this year's festival but also programming the one two years from now. Artists have very full agendas, and dance companies move with a lot of advance notice. We have a small team during the year, but it multiplies during the festival. And many professionals who are now in big theaters started here. Perelada is also a school for professionals. And that makes us very happy.