19 TH CENTURY  |   20 TH CENTURY  |   A MANAGEMENT MODEL
THE PRESIDENTS  |  ACADEMIC ACTIVITY  |  ACADEMIC DIRECTORS
COMPOSERS  |   CONDUCTORS  |  SCHOLARS AND MUSICOLOGISTS
PUBLICATIONS  |   INSTRUMENTALISTS  |   SINGERS   
DRAMA AND BALLET  |   STUDENTS  |   ACADEMIC PLANS  |   CONCERTS

CONDUCTORS

On July 1st of 1938 a new conducting program was created, in charge of Joan Lamote de Grignon, and this way this discipline started its journey through history hand in hand with one of the most significant conductors of Catalunya. Nowadays this program is in charge of musicians of the category and importance of Antoni Ros Marbà.

SCHOLARS AND MUSICOLOGISTS

Joaquim Zamacois, who was student and then professor of the center, represents a main figure of music theory in our country, as an author and co-author of several books that have been key in the education of many generations of music students. Nevertheless, he was not the only one. Between 1927 and the start of the Civil War, father Higini Anglès, great scholar of contemporary Catalonian and Spanish musicology, became professor at the Conservatory –where he had once been a student. We can also mention Miquel Querol and Josep Maria Llorens, who recently have also been part of the faculty.

Music theory is part of the basic learning of every musician. Therefore, besides these specialists, many other professors have been dedicated to this task, apparently hard but fundamental, of teaching aural skills and music theory. Musicians of high standings have participated with the Conservatory in different moments of their careers: Sánchez Cavagnach, Lamote de Grignon, Lluís Benejam –also students once- or Joaquim Zamacois, to cite a few.

PUBLICATIONS

The circumstances of music education in the mid 19th Century brought the center to the need of creating its own pedagogical material. The Liceu archive has many books written by professors of the Liceu. These original writings are a testimony of vitality in the relationship between teachers and students and their ability to create exercises which would be useful to the students of their time. The aural skills and music theory professors also elaborated their text books, which followed their own pedagogical criteria. From the 19th Century until today, the Conservatory has continued this task and has a adapted to the different education plans and the new trends in the pedagogy of music language, theory, history and esthetics, as well as harmony. The use of books written and edited by the Conservatory is a sign of constant improvement of its pedagogic tradition and identity.

INSTRUMENTALISTS

Since the foundation of the Liceo Filo-Dramático there has been a close link between
music education and performance. The professors of the Liceo have been some of the most prominent interpreters of Spain. A proof of this is the fact that when the Gran Teatre del Liceu was founded, the orchestra in charge of every concert and opera was formed mainly with professors from the Conservatory, under the direction of Mariano Obiols. Among the musicians that have accomplished this double task have been violinist Joan Baptista Dalmau, cellist Pau Fargas or clarinetist Josep Jurch. Due to the historical context of their time, these musicians have represented an important influence in the musical tradition of Barcelona.
Among the professors who have transmitted their knowledge in the classrooms of the Conservatory we can mention guitarist Graciano Tarragó, pianist Pere Tintorer –who can be considered father of the Catalonian school of pianists-, violinist Lluís Benejam –later a recognized composer- or cellist Ernest Xancó –formed also at the Conservatory. The Conservatory is also proud to have counted with Pau Casals between their professors.