Costa Brava Guide

Every July and August the grounds of Peralada's castle host a prestigious music and dance festival. The Peralada International Music Festival is organised, run and financed through a non profit-making Castell de Peralada Cultural Foundation. It is held in Perelada, a small village with 1.500 inhabitants situated in a fine setting between Figueres and the Costa Brava. It is a well-preserved medieval village, with a beautiful castle and Renaissance palace, whose gardens provide the venue for the Festival during the months of July and August. The Festival dates from 1987, and in 1992 it joined the European Festival Association. Cultural events are generally held in the open-air auditorium, seating 1.800 and in the gothic Church (Iglesia del Carmen) seating 400.

The Festival, which gives special support to Spanish composers and artists, includes recitals by well-knows soloists, symphonic and choral concerts and operas (26 performances in 13 years) not to mention special productions involving music, theatre and dance. The Festival has commissioned and premiered works by Josep Maria Mestres Quadreny, Tomas Marco and Jep Nuix, among others, and the operas Babel 46, by Xavier Montsalvatge, and Pepita Jimenez, by Isaac Albeniz. The Orquestra de Cadaques is the resident orchestra.