L'Atlàntida at Barcelona Opera House Gran Teatre Del Liceu

The composition of L’Atlàntida spanned half a century, from approximately 1926, when the first idea surfaced in Falla's mind, to 1976, when Ernesto Halffter signed the definitive ?Lucerne version?. Jacint Verdaguer's epic poem, which won the special prize at the Barcelona Floral Games in 1877, was a key work of the Catalan cultural rebirth or Renaixença. In the hands of the composer from Malaga, it acquired the patina of a legend, not merely because of his obsessive dedication to the task – which he failed to complete – but because of the sheer magnitude of the artistic enterprise. Falla wanted to create a great religious, mythical and historical cantata by transcending Verdaguer's lyricism. His vast oratorio has special meaning for the Liceu for it was here, on 24 November 1961, that the world premiere of the first complete version of L’Atlàntida was held, with the memorable participation of Victoria de los Angeles (Queen Isabella) and Eduard Toldrà (conductor).