Barcelona Symphony and Catalonia National Orchestra

The Barcelona Symphony and Catalonia National Orchestra has had foreign conductors and has presented music from other parts of Spain as well as other countries. Yet as its name suggests, the ensemble has been uniquely identified with music of Catalonia. Barcelona has supported a variety of civic and private orchestras since the mid-19th century, including the Orquesta Pau Casals, disbanded after the fall of Spain's Republican government. The Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona, founded by conductor Eduardo Toldrà, replaced it in 1944. Toldrà remained chief conductor until 1962, ...