As Spain begins to reopen following a chaotic spring during which COVID-19 killed almost 30,000 people across the European country, its music sector is finding ways to adapt to live performances without the presence of fans.
Enter plants, which don’t quite offer the same levels of crowd volume but do make for wonderful listeners, as was the case at the first show back inside the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona on Monday. The first live concert inside the Catalunyan opera house earlier this week featured a performance of Giacomo Puccini‘s “Crisantemi” from the UceLi Quartet, who took the stage to play in front of a venue filled with a mix of 2,292 locally-sourced plants in each seat. The performance was live-streamed for fans to watch from home.
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According to reports, the fan-less performance was inspired by Spanish artist Eugenio Ampudia who, like many around the world, was greatly inspired by and drawn to the healing powers of nature during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I heard many more birds singing. And the plants in my garden and outside growing faster,” Ampudia said of his inspiration. “And, without a doubt, I thought that maybe I could now relate in a much intimate way with people and nature.”
All 2,292 plans will be donated along with a certificate from the artists to Spain’s health care professionals at the Hospital ClÃnic of Barcelona. Watch the performance in front of a venue filled with plants below.
Concierto Para el Bioceno – 6/22/20
[Video: LiceuOperaBarcelona]
[H/T Associated Press]