Pablo Casals / Antoni Ros Marbà (arr.) El Pessebre (The Manger)

Pablo Casals was a world-famous cellist, composer and conductor.

Born on December 29, 1876 in El Vendrell (Catalonia), Casals received his first musical training from his father, who was himself an organist. He received his first cello lessons at the age of eleven and quickly developed into an outstanding cellist. He completed his studies at the Madrid Conservatory.

In 1899, he began his international career in Paris as the soloist in a performance of É. Lalo's cello concerto. Many other concerts and tours followed, including a performance for Queen Victoria. He founded a piano trio with Alfred Cortot and Jacques Thibaud, which recorded works by Beethoven, Schumann and Schubert with great success. He was also active as a conductor and founded the Orquesta Pau Casals in Barcelona in 1919. Due to the Spanish Civil War, he went into exile in France in 1936 and later emigrated to Puerto Rico, where he lived and worked until his death on October 22, 1973.

Throughout his life Casals campaigned for peace, democracy and freedom. This can also be seen in his musical works such as the oratorio El Pessebre (The Crib), which was written under the influence of the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War. He also wrote smaller works for orchestra, songs and chamber music. Colleagues such as G. Fauré and A. Schönberg dedicated compositions to him.

Pablo Casals is considered the most important cellist of his time, revolutionized playing technique and gave numerous master classes. He was the first to bring J.S. Bach's Six Suites for Violoncello solo, which are so popular today, to the great concert halls of the 20th century.