Joan Manén (Barcelona, 1883-1971) was one of Europe’s leading violinists during the first half of the 20th century. Considered a child prodigy, Manén gave concerts from an early age and cultivated, also as a composer, a wide range of genres including chamber music, symphonic pieces, lieder, ballet, opera, songs and sardanes. He appeared on the stage with Enric Granados, Pau Casals and Richard Strauss, and played with some of the most famous orchestras of his day. After Manén’s death in 1971, his inheritors donated his musical scores to the Museu de la Música in Barcelona and the Joan Manén Association, an organisation dedicated to the conservation and dissemination of his musical output.
As part of this project the Association launched a collaboration with the Fundació Vila Casas to sponsor two concerts in the towns in the Empordà where the Foundation has museums: Palafrugell and Torroella de Montgrí. On Saturday 23 December at the Teatre Municipal in Palafrugell and Sunday 24 December at the Cine Petit in Torroella de Montgrí concerts will be held featuring the music of Joan Manén. Both concerts start at 7.00 pm.