Prado Museum Hosts European Music Day Featuring ORCAM Foundation Concerts
The Prado Museum marks European Music Day with a special ensemble program presented by the Madrid Community Orchestra and Choir Foundation, known as the ORCAM Foundation. The central gallery and the famous Las Meninas room become the stage for a day of musical celebration that highlights the museum’s commitment to cross-disciplinary art forms.
The Madrid-based choir and orchestra will perform in the central gallery of the main museum building in Madrid. The program includes multiple daytime performances designed to welcome visitors from all walks of life to experience classical choral and orchestral works within a historic setting. The schedule emphasizes accessibility, with concerts divided into two or more passes so audiences can enjoy the performances without crowding the galleries. The repertoire includes pieces such as Virgin Mary by Anton Bruckner and a vocal work titled Cera una vecchia di Polla composed by Goffredo Petrassi, each presented to celebrate the richness of European sacred and secular choral music in a museum context.
Later in the afternoon, a group of thirteen musicians will perform string selections in the Las Meninas room. The concert runs from 18:45 to 19:30 and features insightful program notes that guide listeners through the selections and the composers’ intentions. The pieces explored in this portion of the program include an arrangement inspired by Tschaikovsky, a 자유 improvisation attributed to Sibelius, and a selection from Bach that evokes the mood of changing weather and atmospheric recall. Visitors are encouraged to stay for the full sequence to appreciate the interplay between ensemble technique and interpretive storytelling in a room famed for its Vermeer links and historical ambiance.
Established in 1987, the Madrid Community Orchestra and Choir Foundation has long been a driving force in Spain’s musical life. The organization engages in a variety of initiatives, artistic cycles, and collaborative projects across multiple venues and institutions, bringing together performers, composers, and audiences in ways that expand access to classical music while preserving its integrity and depth. Through its programs, ORCAM seeks to connect communities with high-quality performances that resonate with both traditional listeners and new audiences who may be discovering this repertoire for the first time.
The Madrid Community Choir, affiliated with the ORCAM Foundation, has a rich history dating back to its founding in the mid-1980s. Over the years, the ensemble has pursued international collaborations, performing across continents and contributing to intercultural exchange. The choir’s extensive touring has included appearances in diverse cultural contexts, reflecting a commitment to artistic exploration and audience engagement beyond national borders. This international activity complements the Foundation’s local initiatives, creating a bridge between Madrid’s cultural institutions and global audiences.
As European Music Day unfolds within the Prado’s storied halls, visitors encounter a program that blends historical interpretation with contemporary artistry. The performances are designed to be accessible yet profound, inviting listeners to reflect on how music can illuminate visual art, architectural spaces, and the conversations that link them. The event showcases how a museum can function as a living cultural hub where music, history, and visual art converge in meaningful ways for the public to enjoy on a shared afternoon or evening of discovery and inspiration. Foundation