Barcelona turns to Serrat and Estopa in the dana solidarity concert | News from Catalonia

The Palau Sant Jordi did not fail and hosted 15,000 people this Friday at the solidarity concert with the victims of the Valencia disaster. Organized by the Generalitat, Barcelona City Council, music sector associations and the company The Project, it raised 775,000 euros. The star of the concert, just one month after the flood, was Joan Manuel Serrat, who opened Barcelona and Valencia on an emotional Sant Jordi, who thought he would have definitively said goodbye to the singer-songwriter from the stage in December 2022. Serrat performed the most recognized songs from his repertoire, songs in both Catalan and Spanish. Judit Neddermann, Andrea Motis and Lucia Fumero took the stage after Serrat while the duo Estopa, formed by brothers David and José Manuel Muñoz closed the night. The surprise came when Estopa and Serrat sang the song together I’m leaving on footby the singer-songwriter. And the finishing touch, all the artists and musicians on stage receiving the audience’s ovation.

The veteran Catalan composer, who received the prize in April Princess of Asturias of the Arts 2024assured on November 19 from the Barcelona City Council that the concert is “his grain of sand” in the midst of the devastation caused by the Dana and that “it is no sacrifice to return to the stage, I do not have to face any demon ”. Serrat was received with the public standing and effusive applause to sing Lullabywith which he opened his performance. Other topics followed, such as Songs (walker there is no path)o Something Personal, Mediterranean, It would be fantastic, Party or Paraules of Love, with which he ended his recital.

After singing several songs, Serrat expressed his condolences to the families of the victims of the storm in Valencia and recited the verses of Valencian singer Raimon: “In my town when it rains little it is drought, if it rains too much it is catastrophe. Who will bring the rain to school? Who will teach the rain to rain? “Those who have the power to solve the problems are not competent to do so, today we have to listen to the cry of the people and we have to accompany them in their pain,” he added. The audience stood up to say goodbye to the Catalan singer-songwriter in a long applause.

Among the audience were entire families, young couples, veterans or groups of friends who said they didn’t think twice when they heard the call for the charity concert. Beyond solidarity, the poster weighed. Juliana, an Argentine resident in Barcelona, ​​went with two friends to see Estopa but they were also “very excited” to see Serrat. Rodrigo, who attended with his wife and daughter, said that the concert, despite the tickets, “came out cheap because it is about collaborating with the victims of the dana.”

After Serrat came the turn of Judit Neddermann, Andrea Motis and Lucia Fumero, who sang together for the first time on stage. They opened their recital with the theme I come from a village. It was followed by songs like Readings by Judit Neddermann, Of love o death by Lucia Fumero, How much do you have, how much are you worth, a new song inspired by a cumbia and a Bulgarian song and To the country of l’olivera from Obrint Pas. “We are very honored to do this concert from Barcelona, ​​it is a privilege to be on this stage, we have had a very united response,” said the singers.

Estopa: “We have taught the world a lesson”

The concert was closed by the duo Estopa, the most anticipated of the night by the youngest spectators. “This is going to Valencia” they stated as soon as they arrived on stage. The brothers David and José Manuel Muñoz opened with the song Your heat, with the entire Sant Jordi standing and chanting with his arms raised “dreaming that you haven’t left yet, dreaming that you still touch me.” The energy of the public continued to be high when the duo sang Cacho by Cacho, which ended amid screams from the public.

“Our brothers from Valencia have had a terrible time, thank you all for being at this concert, we have taught the world a lesson,” said the duo from the stage. Other topics followed such as Vacationwhich David Muñoz sang with a flag of the Valencian Community in his hand or Tragicomedy. “We want to dedicate this song to everyone who feels alone,” they said before singing. Sola. I don’t remember anymore, The slit in your skirt, The one in the middle of the kids, I’m out of breath, Paseo o Brake pads. “Thank you very much to all the people who have collaborated with row 0, many of them are not even here,” they added before playing the last songs.

The Barcelona concert joins dozens of cultural initiatives that have been created to try to send help to those affected. Before the Barcelona Amb Valenciathe 19th edition of LOS40 Music Awards dedicated itself to those affected by enabling row 0 of a solidarity nature. Other initiatives such as Som València, Cantar para Ayudar or Vamos València have also allocated resources to those affected by the tragedy that caused 222 deaths and million-dollar losses a month ago. The money raised by Barcelona Amb Valencia It will be delivered directly to the Red Cross.