The famous composer and conductor Richard Strauss arrived in Barcelona in 1925 with enormous enthusiasm; he repeated, in addition to reaping growing success and admiration.
The first time had occurred in 1897 and with the help of the teacher Antoni Nicolau, having made friends in Paris. He conducted two concerts at the Lyric Theatre.
He returned in 1901, this time at the Liceu, invited by Nicolau. He conducted a Beethoven symphony and then a series of his own works.
He returned in 1908 and conducted three concerts at the recently inaugurated Palau de la Música Catalana. His attendance at a bullfight made him late for that appointment: at the beginning another colleague had to get on the lectern. He confessed to being in love with the spectacular modernist architecture and in love with the choir of the Orfeó Català, which allowed him to establish a special relationship with Maestro Millet.
In March 1925 he stayed almost a week to conduct several concerts at the Liceu; He considered himself happy to know that he would have time to wander through his beloved Gothic neighborhood, browse antique shops and admire the ceramics treasured in the Ciutadella Museum, not in vain he was a good collector.
In a crowded Plaza Reial he was a simple listener of a Municipal Band that performed his symphonic poem. He was so moved that he begged the mayor, Baron de Viver, to repeat the audition, but this time directed by himself, in order to try to reciprocate the great affection that the city showed him. Four days later he was pleased with an improvised popular concert.
It was noon on March 19 and in a Plaza de Sant Jaume overflowing with a dedicated audience. The mayor made him go out to the balcony of the City Hall; Endless deafening cheers broke out. And then Strauss went as best he could to the lectern raised in the center, since access was difficult given such a compact crowd.
The success obtained forced him to return to the balcony, presided over by the mayor accompanied by the municipal authorities. He raised his arm not to express his gratitude, but to demand silence. He concluded the four words with some enthusiastic cheers to Barcelona and Catalonia, which were echoed in chorus by the thousands of fervent admirers.
And he left loaded with emotions, memories and of course… ceramics!
