Concert for Freedom
 Mosaic at the Concert for Freedom | |
| Date | June 29, 2013 |
|---|---|
| Time | 20:00h |
| Location | Camp Nou (Barcelona) |
| Cause | Self-determination Catalan independence |
| Participants | Òmnium Cultural and Assemblea Nacional Catalana; 90,000 people |
| Website | www |
The Concert for Freedom was a concert held at Camp Nou football stadium in Barcelona on June 29, 2013, organized by Òmnium Cultural in conjunction with other civil society organization such as the Assemblea Nacional Catalana and the Plataforma Pro Seleccions Esportives Catalanes with the goal using the universal language of music to demand the right of Catalonia and other nations of the world to freely and democratically decide their future. Some 90,000 people were in attendance.[1] Between the 2012 Catalan independence demonstration and the Catalan Way, the concert was another social mobilization event in favor of independence.[2] More than 400 artists performed, among them Lluís Llach, Sopa de Cabra, Miquel Gil, Pastora, Joana Serrat, Jofre Bardagí, Jordi Batiste, Lídia Pujol, Maria del Mar Bonet, Marina Rossell, Mercedes Peón, Nena Venetsanou, Orfeó Català, Paco Ibáñez, Pascal Comelade, Pep Sala, Peret, Projecte Mut, Sabor de Gràcia, Ferran Piqué, Joan Enric Barceló & Eduard Costa from Els Amics de les Arts, and Brams.[3] The artistic directors were Gerard Quintana and Lluís Danés, who was in charge of set design. The stage featured various steps symbolizing the path toward freedom.[4]
Also present at Camp Nou were nine members of the Catalonian government and representatives from the majority of Catalan political parties that support Catalonia's right to self-determination.[5] Muriel Casals, the president of Òmnium Cultural, gave a speech affirming that "Catalonia's independence movement is not against anyone or anything" and requesting that politicians not delay the process toward a referendum.[6]
Background
Concert tickets went on sale on Monday, June 3rd, and almost all (60,000) were sold the same day, with online wait times to purchase tickets that that exceeded six hours.[7] This caused the organization to initially freeze ticket sales [8] and then release 30,000 tickets for sale on the 17th, though these were for seats at the south goal post of the stadium, behind the stage. [9]
When the singer Dyango announced his participation in the Concert for Freedom, some Spaniards were outraged.[10] Dyango was not intimidated by the attitudes of the hosts on 13 TV, an ecclesiastic television channel that is one of the stalwarts of Spanish nationalism, in the face of his support for separatism.[11] He affirmed that the current goal is to hold a Catalan referendum, and ultimately achieve full separation from Spain. [12][13] Peret also denounced pressure and threats he has received for participating in the concert. [14]
Singer-songwriter from the Canary Islands, Pedro Guerra, cancelled his participation in the concert alleging that the event had veered toward "purely separatist motivations that he doesn't share" and that "this is not his fight," while affirming that he was not pressured into withdrawing.[15] Singer Mayte Martín also withdrew at the last minute for similar motives. [16]
Program
Before the concert an information fair was set up outside Camp Nou[17] and the local Food Bank established collection points to benefit the needy, collecting a total of 25 tons of food.[18]
The event was divided in two halves. In the first half, various artists interpreted songs related to freedom and popular Catalan tunes such as "L'emigrant" (The Emmigrant) sung by Peret; "Què volen aquesta gent?" (What do these people want?) sung by María del Mar Bonet and Companyia Elèctrica Dharma, and "Camins" (Paths) sung by Sopa de Cabra.[4] The second half featured songs by Lluís Llach sung both by the artist himself and other artists such as Orfeó Català, Perros, Ramoncín, Pastora and Miquel Gil, in homage to Llach's concert at Camp Nou in 1985, remembered as a protest in supports of the rights of the Catalan nation.[4][19] At halftime, the Castellers de Vilafranca orchestrated a 9 level high human tower called a 3 de 9 amb folre and they played the Catalan national anthem "Els segadors," while forming a giant mosaic reading "Freedom Catalonia 2014." [4]
During the first half, readings were performed between songs by Cristina Plazas, Anna Sahun, Bonaventura Clotet, Manel Esteller, Miquel Casas, Pere Joan Cardona, Alícia Casals, Isona Passola, Ventura Pons, Joel Joan, Jordi Díaz, Josep Pedrals, Lluís Soler, Màrius Serra, Matthew Tree, Montserrat Carulla, Núria Feliu, Quim Masferrer, Roger Coma and Sílvia Bel.
Readings were written by Bertolt Brecht, Dolors Miquel, Enric Casasses, Jacint Verdaguer (La veu del Montseny), Joan Margarit, Joana Raspall (El vell vestit), Maria Àngels Anglada, Marià Villangómez, Miquel Martí i Pol, Montserrat Abelló, Salvador Espriu (El meu poble i jo), Vicent Andrés Estellés, Joan Brossa, Josep Maria de Sagarra (La campana de Sant Honorat).
International reception
The Concert for Freedom was covered by several international media agencies (such as Reuters and The Associated Press) and various newspapers, television and radio stations from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Portugal, etc.[20] One of the most talked-about images from the event by the media was the mosaic that unfolded in the stands during the playing of the national anthem of Catalonia.[21]
Among the articles covering the event were:
- Le Figaro (France): Un stade sang et or pour l'indépendace de la Catalogne (Blood- and Gold-Colored Stadium for Catalan Independence)
- L'Indépendant (France): Grand concert pour l'indépendance catalane ce samedi soir au Camp Nou avec Lluis Llach (Huge Concert for Catalan Independence Saturday at Camp Nou with Lluís Llach)
- Wiener Zeitung (Austria): 90.000 fordern bei "Konzert für Freiheit" Unabhängigkeit Kataloniens (90,000 Call for Catalan Independence at Concert for Freedom)
- DS De Standaard (Flanders): 90.000 mensen op concert voor onafhankelijkheid Catalonië (90,000 People at Concert for Catalan Independence)
- RTBF Info (Wallonia): Quelque 90 000 personnes au “Concert pour la Paix” pour indépendance de la Catalogne (Some 90,000 People at "Concert for Peace" for Catalan Independence)
- Stol (South Tyrol): 90 000 fordern bei „Konzert für Freiheit“ Unabhängigkeit Kataloniens (90,000 Call for Catalan Independence at "Concert for Freedom")
- Zürcher Unterländer (Switzerland): 90 000 fordern bei „Konzert für Freiheit“ Unabhängigkeit Kataloniens (90,000 Call for Catalan Independence at "Concert for Freedom")
- Neue Luzerner Neitung (Switzerland): Katalonen fordern Unabhängigkei (Catalans Demand Independence)
- 7seizh.info (Britain): Barcelone : 90 000 personnes au « concert pour la liberté » de la Catalogne (Barcelona: 90,000 People at Concert for "Catalan Freedom")
- RTP Noticias (Portugal) - Catalães celebram luta pela independência da Catalunha (Catalans Celebrate Fight for Catalonian Independence)
- Enikos (Greece): ”Πλημμύρισαν” το Καμπ Νου (Camp Nou, Filled to the Brim)
- Tanea (Greece): Συναυλία για την Ελευθερία της Καταλωνίας (Concert for Catalan Freedom)
- 24Sports (Cypress): «Πλημμύρισε» το Καμπ Νου για την ανεξαρτησία της Καταλονίας (Camp Nou: Full to the Brim for Catalan Independence)
- BBC Amèrica Latina: Multitudinario concierto por la independencia de Cataluña (Massive Concert for Catalan Independence)
References
- ^ "L'independentisme esclata al Camp Nou (An Explosion of Pro-independence Sentiments at Camp Nou)". VilaWeb. 30 junio 2013. Retrieved 30 junio 2013.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ Colomer, Marc (April 24, 2013). "El Barça cedeix el Camp Nou el 29 de juny per al concert amb Llach per l'estat propi (Barça Vacates Camp Nou on June 29 for a Concert Featuring Llach to Benefit Independence Movement)". Ara.
- ^ "Lluís Llach, Sopa de Cabra, Miquel Gil i Pastora entre més al concert per la independencia (Lluís Llach, Sopa de Cabra, Miquel Gil and Pastora among others at the concert for independence)". VilaWeb. 30 maig 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d 324.cat (30 juny 2013). ""Tossudament alçats", de Llach, tancarà el Concert per la Llibertat al Camp Nou, que aplegarà més de 400 artistes ("Tossudament alçats", by Llach, will close the Concert for Freedom at Camp Nou Bringing Together More than 400 Artists)". Retrieved 1 juliol 2013.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "90.000 voices for independence at Barcelona's Camp Nou concert". VilaWeb. June 30, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
- ^ "Muriel Casals recorda als partits catalans que el camí del dret a decidir "és complicat" però "no pot ajornar-se" (Muriel Casals Reminds Catalan Political Parties that the Path to the Right to Decide "Is Complicated" but "Cannot Be Held Back")". 324.cat/ACN. 30 juny 2013.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "El Concert per la Llibertat vende 60.000 entradas (El Concierto por la Libertad vende 60.000 entradas)". la Vanguardia. June 4, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
- ^ el País (June 4, 2013). "Paralizada la venta de entradas del Concert per la Llibertat (Paralizada la venta de entradas del Concierto por la Libertad)". Retrieved 3 julio 2013.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "A la venta 30.000 nuevas entradas para el 'Concert per la Llibertat' (30,000 New Tickets on Sale for "Concert for Freedom")". el Periódico. June 17, 2013. Retrieved 3 juliol 2013.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "13TV, sorpresa i preocupada perquè Dyango hagi passat de cantar 'Suspiros de España' a donar suport al "separatisme català" (13TV, Surprised and Worried because Dyango Has Gone from Singing "Suspiros de España" to Supporting Catalan Separatism)". Ara. June 5, 2013.
- ^ "Dyango no es deixa intimidar per l'actitud agressiva dels tertulians de 13tv contra el seu independentisme (Dyango not Intimidated by Aggressive Attitude of13tv Hosts against his Support for Separatism)". Vilaweb. June 5, 2006.
- ^ "Dyango escandalitza 13tv (Dyango scandalizes 13tv)". Regió7. 6 de juny de 2013.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Dyango: «We can't go back now; it would hurt the movement»". El Punt Avui. June 17, 2013.
- ^ "Dyango and Peret Denounce Threats from the Establishment". VilaWeb. June 28, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
- ^ "Pedro Guerra es retira del Concert per la Llibertat perquè "aquesta lluita no és la meva (Pedro Guerra Withdraws from the Concert for Freedom because "This Is not my Fight")". diari Ara. June 28, 2013.
- ^ "Mayte Martín i Pedro Guerra no seran al Concert per la Llibertat per pressions españoles (Mayte Martín and Pedro Guerra will not attend the Concert for Freedom due to pressure from Spaniards)". el singular digital. June 27, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
- ^ VilaWeb (June 21, 2013). "El Concert per la Llibertat inclourà una fira d'entitats (Concert for Freedom Will Include an Information Fair)".
- ^ "El Concert per la Llibertat recapta 25 tones d'aliments (Concert for Freedom Collects 25 Tons of Food))". Ara. June 30, 2013.
- ^ Colomer, M.; González, S. (20 abril 2013). "Un Camp Nou per l'estat propi per impulsar el procés (Camp Nou gathering in support of the process toward self-rule )". Ara.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ VilaWeb (29 juny 2013). "Una vintena de mitjans internacionals, al Concert per la Llibertat (A Score of International Media Outlets Representated at the Concert for Freedom)". Retrieved 1 juliol 2013.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ VilaWeb (July 1, 2013). "La imatge del Concert per la Llibertat, als mitjans internacionals (Photo of the Concert for Freedom, International Media)". Retrieved 1 juliol 2013.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help)
External Links
- Webpage of the event Template:Language icon
- Webpage of Òmnium Cultural Template:Language icon
- Webpage of Assemblea Nacional Catalana Template:Language icon
- Dossier especial sobre el Concert per la Llibertat a Vilaweb Template:Language icon
- Important Videos