Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu reopened earlier this week after months of coronavirus lockdowns, with a somewhat unconventional opening night – a string quartet performance for 2,292 houseplants. The concert, organised by conceptual artist Eugenio Ampudia, saw the UceLi quartet play Giacomo Puccini’s ‘Crisantemi’ (which translates to “chrysanthemums”) to its leafy audience.
The audience filled out the concert hall, taking up seats – in the orchestra section and above balconies. Plants were sourced from local nurseries, and each one will be donated to frontline health care professionals, with organisers stating they wanted to recognise the work of those who have served “on the toughest front in a battle unprecedented for our generations.”
At the end of the performance, the sound of leaves and branches rustling filled the opera house, emulating the sound of applause.
“[The Liceu] welcomes and leads a highly symbolic act that defends the value of art, music and nature as a letter of introduction to our return to activity,” the theatre said in a statement on its website.
Earlier this week, Spain ended its national state of emergency after three months under lockdown. Venues such as theatres and cinemas are allowed to operate with capacity restrictions.
Watch the full performance below.
