The Boys’ Choir of Montserrat and Els Catarres join together to celebrate 35 years of the Villavecchia Foundation

11 · November · 2024

On November 8th we celebrated the solidarity concert celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Foundation at the basilica of Santa Maria del Mar. The recital, hosted by journalist Xavi Coral, counted with the collaboration of families and children with cancer and other grave illnesses.

The doors of the basilica of Santa Maria del Mar of Barcelona opened to host the solidarity event full of magic. The Boys’ Choir of Montserrat, one of oldest schools of music in Europe, offered a charity recital for children with cancer and other grave illnesses, offering an unforgettable night, like their first ever collaboration with the boys’ choir group Els Catarres. The concert takes place in the context of the Villavecchia Foundation’s 35th anniversary celebration, honoring the work to better the lives of gravely ill children and their families that’s been taking place since 1989.

In the most anticipated moments of the concerts, Els Catarres interpreted an acoustic version of Diamants with the Boys’ Choir, for the first time, and under the conductor Llorenc Castillo, sang emblematic songs such as Ave Maria by Schubert, Els cant dels ocells and El Virolai. During the performance of El cant dels ocells is when the public lit their candles, a moment dedicated to the memory of gravely ill children.

Els Catarres sang “Diamants” with the boys’ choir of Montserrat

The organization of the concert was aided by the help of the young patients’ families and the volunteer team at the Villavecchia Foundation. Together they have also created a commemorative craft in the form of a flower that was given out to the concert’s attendees.

Candles were lit during “El cant dels ocells”

This event is celebrated just 10 years after the Boys’ Choir of Montserrat offered the same solidarity concert in the same Barcelonian basilica for the fundraising efforts at the Villavecchia Foundation, also hosted by journalist Xavi Coral, who has also hosted this year’s concert. All of the funds raised through this concert will go directly to care programs for children with cancer and other grave illnesses at the Villavecchia Foundation.

View of the Santa Maria del Mar during the solidarity concert

This event was possible thanks to the principal collaboration of the Privada Mir-Puig Foundation, the participation of Bobo Choses, help supplied by Éxitos, Vueling, Hoteles Yurbban, Chic & Basic hotels, Mimbre & Co, Don Palillo, Fabriano Sadipal, and Meytaqui.

We also thank Proactiv, who have brought us a star bigger than 2 meters to be showcased in the Christmas exposition of “Els Llums de Sant Pau”. It is the first time that the lights of Sant Pau leave the recinto modernista, and it is in solidarity with the charitable acts of the Foundation. They will also join us during our next Solidarity Christmas Market, which will take place on the 27th and 30th of November in Casa Capell, in the barrio de Gracia. Like always, you are invited!