The Catalunya Aixeca el Teló gala presents the new season

With the news of three million consolidated viewers for the 2024-25 season, a milestone already reached last year, the 24th Catalunya Aixeca el Teló gala had all the ingredients to be a great celebration of the performing arts. And so it was. Held at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, under the title On Tot és Possible, the gala was directed by Joan Arqué, collaborated with Jaume Viñas, and featured a distinguished master of ceremonies, Jordi Oriol, who performed the performances.

Rhyming and playing with words to the limit, Jordi Oriol, armed with a clear allusion to the Gaza conflict, wove together a sometimes surreal gala, a tribute to all the performing arts, attended by the President of the Generalitat (Catalan government), Salvador Illa, the Speaker of the Parliament (Parlament), Josep Rull, and the Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun. Performers included Marta Cardona with her violin, singer Magalí Sare with the Bruckner Choir, the Comediants troupe led by Joan Font, and Elena Gadel transformed into a levitating virgin who sang La saeta.

Jordi Oriol officiates at the Liceu at a surprising ceremony with the new releases for 25-26, directed by Joan Arqué.

The tribute to Palestine featured soprano Aseel Massoud, singing in Arabic accompanied by guitar and the OSTO orchestra. A medley of musicals was the only explicit reference to all the musicals to be seen this season, with special attention paid to soprano Florence, played by Marta Ribera.

The presentation and press conference took place in the morning, where the Association of Theater Companies of Catalonia (Adetca) and the public theaters revealed last season's figures, with all kinds of details. The magical figure of three million spectators was announced, a figure that Catalan theaters had reached for the second year. Regarding box office receipts, the €94 million achieved also represents a 2% increase. There were 1,234 shows, 59% of which were Catalan productions.

The numbers speak volumes, as Adetca president Isabel Vidal pointed out. “Viewers are choosing theater much more than before the pandemic,” because “we have been able to connect with the audience thanks to excellence, thanks to the quality of telling good stories, with a predominance of Catalan authors.”

Vidal acknowledged that a record "requires a show that sets the stage," which in the 2024-25 season was the musical Mar i cel by Dagoll Dagom at the Teatro Victoria, with nearly 400,000 spectators. Following this were the shows Improshow, a sustained success at the Teatreneu; Escape Room 2, the comedy by Joel Joan and Hèctor Claramunt at the Condal; the crazy and colorful musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at the Tívoli; and Jordi Galceran's latest dark comedy, Turisme rural, at the Teatro Borràs.

High Season Recognition

During the gala, the Honorary Mention for the Premi Catalunya de Teatre 2025 was also presented to Bitò, in recognition of more than three decades of experience promoting theater in Girona. The award goes to Salvador Sunyer and Josep Domènech (who was unable to attend the event), key figures of the Temporada Alta autumn festival. The reason for this is because they are "undisputed leaders in the decentralization of the performing arts and in promoting an open cultural model committed to the region." Sunyer, speaking on behalf of both of them, declared: "We are fed up with lies and we want to leave this world of lies behind. Theater is the art of telling lies, and here, on the other hand, we do like to be lied to. We believe it's true, even though we know it's a lie. Because these lies are the only way to explain some truths."

Vidal also welcomed the fact that up to eight new theaters are expected to open in two years, but warned that "opening theaters is important, but it has to be done with good planning and in a sustained manner."

Vidal emphasized that "a very positive dialogue is ongoing with the administration," although the sector continues to demand 2% of the budget for culture, as was stated several times during the gala. Next year, they hope to have detailed results for all of Catalonia's theaters, according to Xavier Fina, director general of Cultural Promotion of the Generalitat (Catalan Government).

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At the presentation of the 24-25 report card at the Poliorama, the genocide in Gaza was also denounced, as Joan Arqué, the gala director, pointed out. Vidal concluded: "Culture always responds, and not with weapons, but with words."