Every year, for the past 53 years, the best and brightest musicians from around the world come together in Puerto Rico for the acclaimed Casals Festival. Pablo Casals had a huge impact on Puerto Rican music, first by founding the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra and then the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. In between these two huge contributions, after permanently moving to Puerto Rico, Pablo Casals conceived the Festival Casals. Ever since its first performer, pianist Rudolph Serkin, the festival’s popularity and prestige has soared throughout the years. The Casals Festival has been graced with the presence of great musical directors such as Mstislav Rostropovich, Leonard Bernstein, Sir John Barbirolli and Krzysztof Penderecki.
The 2011 Festival Casals kicks off on February 19 and ends March 12 so don’t miss out on a spectacular event honoring great music but most of all, a great man.