The participatory opera Push! was the last of the year’s events held in Sabadell as the capital of Catalan culture. The production, which is an ode to forgiveness, resilience and hope, tells the moving story of Belgian pianist and Holocaust survivor Simon Gronowski. Participants in the initiative, which was open to all citizens, included not only three soloist voices but also a choir formed of 40 children from the city’s Municipal Conservatory, a small professional choir, a choir of amateur adult singers from across various choir formations in the city, as well as fifteen professional musicians from the Orquesta Sinfónica del Vallès symphonic orchestra.
“What we as an audience witnessed was an unforgettable experience. Emotions took hold of us, not only because of the harrowing and heart-wrenching story of Belgian pianist and lawyer Simon Gronowski, a Holocaust survivor, who was actually there as a member of the audience, but also because of the magic created by the music and the set design that served as the backdrop for that story throughout the production. Music is truly a driver of transformation and union. The children who took part in the opera Push! will never forget what it was like; this experience will help them grow and they will remember it for the rest of their lives”.
Cecilia Milá, head of external relations at the Banco Sabadell Foundation