And what if the hero were the ordinary human being who lives life with authenticity, facing it and overcoming its vicissitudes? And what if the anti-hero did not have a negative connotation, but rather represented the human being who does not conform to convention and, in their dissent, seeks to transform the world with hints of a better horizon for all humanity?

One of the most recurring epithets in the history of humanity, which has given rise to a multitude of literature and philosophical texts, as well as visual representation, is that of the hero. Even today, heroism is a characteristic used to qualify extraordinary acts, supernatural powers, and abilities that do not conform to the ordinary human condition. Mythology, religion, and art history have recurrently employed a concept that is currently in crisis, although the concepts of "hero" and "anti-hero," its opposite, are more deliberately used than ever.

The history of music is full of heroes and anti-heroes; not only the fictional protagonists of many musical works, but also the composers themselves. But what if we change the focus and reconsider the concept with contemporary eyes? Then we can change the perspective and recognize in the essence of every human being the possibility of becoming a hero/heroine at some point in life, but also that of becoming an anti-hero.

And what if the hero were the ordinary human being who lives life with authenticity, facing it and overcoming its vicissitudes? And what if the anti-hero did not have a negative connotation, but rather represented the human being who does not conform to convention and, in their dissent, seeks to transform the world with hints of a better horizon for all humanity?

The Palau de la Música Catalana wants to shed light on artists who seek in their art an unconventional approach to the world. A vision of life and history that provides a tangential, enriching path with a renewed spirit. Therefore, we are pleased to present two guest composers with very different generational and cultural backgrounds: the Catalan Raquel García-Tomás and the American Steve Reich. García-Tomás joins the list of female composers that has been growing among guest composers over the last five seasons. García-Tomás represents the ability to see the human being with different eyes, as she has demonstrated in her operas.

On the other hand, Steve Reich is a veteran composer who, with his music, was a dissident sixty years ago. Revisiting some of his early works with current eyes and ears will be a reflective exercise of great impact.

Catalan performers and young ensembles are regular protagonists in the programs of the Palau. This year, the Trio Fortuny embarks on the second year of artistic residency with a focus on Shostakovich, marking the fiftieth anniversary of his death. And the Frames Percussion ensemble also begins a residency, with a special focus on projects featuring music by García-Tomás and Reich.

The Palau de la Música Catalana's connection with other arts continues to bear tasty fruit. Adela Beltran places women at the center of her painting, as heroines in a world still struggling for equality of rights and opportunities. Bill Armstrong, an American photographer, uses blur and color treatment to portray human figures in an archetypal manner.

We will also collaborate with private art institutions such as the Catalunya-La Pedrera Foundation or the Sorigué Foundation, and selected works will be temporarily exhibited in different spaces within the Palau.

Finally, in the realm of literature, poet Lluís Calvo will participate, challenging the concept of heroism in his poetry. And novelist Jordi Lara, a great connoisseur and advocate of Catalan music, will help us unravel the aura of mystery surrounding the composer Juli Garreta.

Music, as always, remains at the center of everything.