It is the story of a dream brought to life. Raúl Juan, a conservatory professor who had long pictured in his mind the guiding lines of this idea, believed he would put it into practice once he secured a permanent position. That moment has arrived. The family business started by Raúl’s great-great-grandparents around 1870, a historic grocery store in El Campello that endured the late 19th century, survived the upheavals of the 20th century, but fell to the turn of the millennium. It has now become a new temple dedicated to music and culture.
Last Saturday, the town welcomed a new cultural center called “La tenda el Pi,” shaped after meticulous restoration of a shop once located at the heart of the town, at number 1 on Carrer del Convent. Its first owner was Emilio Lledó Carratalá. Today, his great-grandson has completed the transformation of the establishment, closed since 2000, into a space for cultural promotion. The aim is to assist all the artists who are members of the Association for the Promotion of Classical Music (AFOMUC), pianists, violinists, percussionists, and other virtuosos who seek to make a name in a field marked by fierce competition, as Raúl laments.
Evitó el derrumbe
His determination, along with that of his sister Alicia, has made this project possible. Nothing would have been possible without the support of the property owners, specifically Raúl’s aunt, the latest custodian of a building that is much more than the remnants of a shop. “It is a place where we grew up and that housed my mother and my aunt,” recalls the project promoter, who also notes that years ago the construction was even part of a plan to be torn down and replaced with new buildings in the area.
The historic site withstood those plans, and the renovation work uncovered the edifice’s architectural wealth: from the original porcelain floor to stone walls hidden behind layers of cement, wooden doors, and of course, the shelves that once displayed the goods for sale.
In a privileged position stands a late 19th-century grand piano donated by the family of the late Isidoro de la Ossa, a teacher, peace judge, and musician. The instrument is kept in perfect working condition, a fact demonstrated on opening day by five pianists who gave a mini inaugural concert that left the audience astonished. Luis Caballero, Fernán Bermejo, Manuel de Elias, and Artur Mikhlin performed without sheet music, while Alfredo de la Ossa, a conservatory professor, offered a Chopin funeral march in tribute to his father, who passed away during the Covid pandemic.
From the start, the venue’s architecture shone as a jewel of the area. It will now operate as a sanctuary for music and will attract culture lovers to concerts of classical music, art exhibitions, conferences, master classes, cinema forums, and other events to be announced in the coming months. AFOMUC will admit members and will understandably charge admission to events in order to sustain the activity and preserve the property.
Actuaciones y más eventos
As explained by the project lead, the goal is to support AFOMUC members who want music to become their life path. Of course, other artists may perform as guests if an agreement is reached with the organizers and the pricing is set accordingly.
“La tenda el Pi” owes its existence to the participation of many people. It is essential to acknowledge the sisters Paca and Consuelo Lledó Vaello, the current owner of the site, the broader family who contributed as they could, and a wide array of professionals who oversaw the restoration. Electricians, sound technicians, carpenters, restorers of old floors, and laborers worked side by side. Everyone understood from the start that they were part of something meaningful. Individuals such as Roberto Ruiz, Pepe Lledó, María Eugenia, Pedro, Jesús Juan Lledó, and Lara Planelles are among those who propelled the project forward.
Opening day ceremonies received institutional support, featuring the town mayor, Juanjo Berenguer, and councilor Pedro Mario Pardo. The mayor said, “Projects like this bring greater richness to El Campello and help us all become a bit better by expanding culture.” Alongside the authorities were the peace judge, the town priest, the president of the Association of Seniors, and other invited guests who shared the moment.
As Raúl Juan declared, “This project had to happen, and we achieved it together. We are the reflection of a family linked to music because you become what you are taught to be, and we aim to help conservatory students who want to pursue music professionally, body and soul.” The project’s organizer also revealed part of the center’s schedule, which will include a photography exhibition next Sunday. Yet the main ingredient remains music. He noted that concerts should carry a didactic element, and he also announced new events, such as a cello and guitar recital on April 27, with a much-anticipated June recital to rediscover the vihuela, a unique instrument in Spain that eventually gave way to the guitar.