MERITA Concert and Networking Event in Barcelona, Spain, 13-14 March 2025
We are delighted to host a special series of events in Barcelona on 13-14 March 2025, under the framework of MERITA – a pioneering platform for European young string quartets co-funded by the European Union.
Casa Batlló will host a concert on 14 March. Photo: Courtesy of Casa Batlló
MERITA is an online and offline platform that increases the visibility and circulation of European string quartets by innovating and improving the sustainability of the music industry, increasing access and participation in cultural activities, promoting European cultural heritage, strengthening connections between local and European culture and between online and offline engagement.
Winner of the Creative Europe – European Platforms 2021, MERITA is a project led by Le Dimore del Quartetto (Milan, Italy), winner of a European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Award in 2019, in collaboration with 16 cultural institutions, including Europa Nostra, across 11 European countries. Over three years, MERITA engages 38 string quartets, bringing together 152 exceptional musicians.
Networking event at the European Commission Representation in Barcelona on 13 March | 18:00 – 20:00 CET
On 13 March, the Aula Europa of the European Commission Representation in Barcelona will host the presentation of the MERITA Platform.
This event, organised by Europa Nostra and Le Dimore del Quartetto, in collaboration with the European Commission Representation in Barcelona, will feature institutional speeches, testimonials from experts and musicians, as well as the presentation of the MERITA Platform as an exemplary model of connecting youth, music, and heritage:
- Welcome by the Head of the European Commission Representation in Barcelona
- Introduction by Sneska Quaedvlieg Mihailovic, Secretary General of Europa Nostra
- Presentation of MERITA Platform by Francesca Moncada
- Testimonial by Amilcar Vargas, World Heritage Management at Casa Battló
- Testimonial and Music Performance by Akela Quartet
- Cocktail Reception
This event is free-of-charge, but registration is required.
Concert at Casa Batlló on 14 March | 07:00 – 08:00 CET
On 14 March, in partnership with Le Dimore del Quartetto and Casa Batlló, we are pleased to invite you to start your day with a very special musical experience: PRESENCE.
PRESENCE is an unusual event combining classical music and mindfulness to create a deeper concert experience. In a world more hectic and stressful than ever, the musicians of Akela Quartet wish to create a space for presence. A concert experience that helps the audience to breathe, sense, feel and listen their way to a calm and attentive state of mind.
Akela Quartet. Photo: All rights reserved
Music by Haydn, Shostakovich, Kølster, and Glass – performed by the Akela Quartet – will accompany a short guided meditation between movements, leading you through different stages of awareness.
The concert will take place in Casa Batlló itself, one of Antoni Gaudí’s most iconic masterpieces, a UNESCO World Heritage site and winner of a European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Award in 2004. Built between 1904 and 1906 in the heart of Barcelona, this architectural gem was commissioned by Josep Batlló and transformed into a stunning example of Gaudí’s creativity. The building’s organic forms, vibrant colors, and intricate details reflect his deep connection with nature and his revolutionary vision.
This event is free-of-charge, but space is limited. Be sure to secure your spot here.
The MERITA platform receives the support of the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.
