The Catalan cultural sphere is the only one in the Iberian Peninsula in which there was intense dramatic activity during the middle ages. The great theatrical performances are the Passió de Crist i l'Assumpció de Maria (Passion of Christ and the Assumption of Mary).
From the 14th century, theatrical productions of the Passion of Christ were differentiated from ecclesiastical dramas in Latin. The new performances (mysteries) highlighted the human nature of Christ, incorporated the vernacular language and allowed for the participation of the people.
Nowadays, three types of mysteries are still going on in the so-called "Valley of the Passion", in Baix Llobregat: those with traditional roots, such as those performed in the theatres in Olesa and Esparreguera; the promenade performance at Sant Vicenç dels Horts; and that of Molins de Rei, a modern performance of an authored work.
The great dramatic cycle of medieval Catalan Theatre is completed with four representations of the Assumption of the Mother of God: the liturgical drama of Santa Maria de l'Estany, the Mystery de la Selva, the Assumptionist Mystery of Valencia Cathedral, and the Mystery, or Festival, of Elx.
Other medieval performances that have survived to the present day are the Chant of the Sibyl in Mallorca and Alghero, or the Dance of the Death in Verges.
The Catalan culture cannot be understood without all the fantastic facilities of Barcelona. This setting has become the backbone of the country's culture.
The Palau de la Música, the work of Lluís Domènech i Montaner and a Unesco World Heritage site, is much more than a refined example of modernista architecture. The witness to key episodes in Catalan history, it has become a reference point for Catalans.
Sharing centre stage as a symbol of the Catalan culture is the Gran Teatre del Liceu. Built in 1847, and linked from the beginning to the bourgeoisie of Barcelona, this building has survived two catastrophic episodes: an anarchist bomb in 1893 and a fire in 1994.
Among the modern facilities for the performing arts the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya, the Teatre Lliure and the Mercat de les Flors stand out. In the musical field, beyond the examples of the Palau de la Música and Liceu, is the L’Auditori of Barcelona. Regarding the visual arts, the main institutions are the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC), which offers a global and historical perspective of Catalan art, and the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA), offering a showcase of the most up-to-date art.
The Passió d'Olesa de Montserrat (the Passion of Olesa de Montserrat), one of the most popular and biggest in Catalonia along with that in Esparraguera, has a predominantly religious origin: the Parish Archive of Olesa preserves the oldest document that mentions the event in an inventory from 1530.
However, since its inception the theatrical performance has always had an urban, civic and popular character. That is why the Church tried to control it during various periods, first moving the presentation inside the temple, and later prohibiting it.
Finally, from 1847 onwards, the show was performed in different locations (the Teatre Principal, the Teatre del Círcol, the Teatre Olesa and the Gran Teatre de la Passió), with the only break brought about by the Civil War. Currently, and since 1987, the modern Teatre de la Passió d’Olesa, a large building, has been the venue for these performances.
Hundreds of Olesans, including nearly 500 extras, selflessly participate every year in the theatrical representation of the Passion, which usually takes place at the weekend in March and April. In 1996 it achieved the world record by simultaneously gathering 729 actors on stage.
The Passió d’Esparraguera (the Passion of Esparraguera) is a great theatrical spectacle capable of conveying the essence of characters from two thousand years ago to nearly 15,000 spectators each year. It shares the honour of being one of the most important Passions in Catalonia with that of Olesa de Montserrat.
This performance is possible thanks to the participation of all the people of Esparraguera. There are a huge number of actors and extras who take part, plus those who work backstage and the members of the orchestra and the choir. In total, close to a thousand people work in the Teatre de la Passió, the setting for this show since 1969.
The result of all this effort is a dozen performances that are noted for their dramatic and technical complexity, with rapid changes of stage sets and special effects.
The first reports of the performance of the Passió d’Esparreguera date back to the beginning of the 17th century. It is a theatrical evolution of the mysteries, dramatic representations of medieval origin. However, the current version of the Passió d’Esparreguera is the one written by the local poet Ramon Torruella in 1960, while the original music is by Josep Borràs. The structure has been maintained, with 4 acts and up to 35 scenes.