The Catalan Symphonic Orchestra of Cobla Instruments and Strings performed deep-rooted and meaningful pieces for the Costa Brava.
On 1st January 2010, from the Teatre Jardí in Figueres, Televisió de Catalunya broadcast the New Year’s Concert performed by the Catalan Symphonic Orchestra of Cobla Instruments and Strings, which paid tribute to Catalan music under the baton of maestro Carles Coll. This pioneering and alternative initiative arose with the aim of celebrating New Year’s Day differently.
For just over and hour and a half, tribute was paid to the Nova canço movement, Catalan Rock and Havaneres (colonial sea shanties), along with other local rhythms. A special twenty-minute tribute was paid to the Costa Brava on the commemoration of its Centenary. Songs such as Juny by Juli Garreta, La Caterina del cafè de la Marina by Narcís Lagares, El meu avi by J. Ortega Monasterio or popular songs including La calma del mar featured in the tribute to the Costa Brava. During the broadcast of the concert viewers were able to enjoy spectacular images of the Girona coast taken from programmes produced by the same channel, such as Catalonia from the air and Catalonia’s favourite scenery, which accompanied the music performed by fifty musicians. During this section of the programme, more than 74,000 viewers were able to contemplate unique coastal landscapes while enjoying the music selected for the occasion.
The New Year’s Concert, with an average of 87,000 viewers (a 7.7% share), thus contributes to raising the profile of the Costa Brava in its Centenary year, an initiative of the Patronat de Turisme Girona Costa Brava. This event was one of many organised by the Patronat de Turisme for the promotion of the area’s music and culture. The Musical Nights of the Centenary were the cornerstone of these events last summer, encompassing the Visions of the Mediterranean concert and the 43rd Havaneres Concert in Calella de Palafrugell, watched live by more than 40,000 people, serving as an attraction and publicity vehicle for the Costa Brava brand.