Peralada festival unveils lineup and premieres, highlighting 'garden art' and paradise themes 

The Peralada festival is a summer performing arts festival held annually in Peralada, a small town in northern Catalonia. The festival takes place around the town's medieval castle.  

Joyce DiDonato, Angel Blue, and William Christie are just some of the renowned artists set to appear at this year's festival. The 39th edition will also feature the world premieres of Hort/garden, created by Elena Terrats and Helena Tornero, and Genius Loci, directed by Rafael R. Villalobos.  

Festival director Oriol Aguilà announced that a total of twelve performances will be held, all centered around a common theme: "the fascinating world of garden art and the various meanings of paradise." For the first time, the festival will take part in Finland's Savonlinna Opera Festival, where it will present its operatic production of "The Fairy Queen." 

Twelve shows in fifteen days make up this year's program. According to Aguilà, the festival invites audiences to "get lost and find themselves again" in a creative paradise.  The theme of garden art and paradise will open with a lyrical recital by mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, accompanied by pianist Craig Terry. DiDonato, one of today's most influential voices in classical music, will make her festival debut on July 3 in the Gothic-style Carme church. 

On July 6, Christoph and Julian Prégardien, a father and son duo, will perform together for the first time in Spain with the premiere of "In Paradisum", a tribute to central European romanticism through the works of Schubert and Liszt.  

They will be joined by pianist Saskia Giorgini, narrator Alba Pujol, and Miquel Genescà of the Escolania de Montserrat boys' choir, as part of the celebration of the abbey's millennium. 

This summer, the Peralada Festival will also for the first time participate in the prestigious Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland, presenting its acclaimed production of Henry Purcell's "The Fairy Queen". Performances will be held on July 29 and 31 and August 2, 2025.  

Originally premiered at the festival's auditorium in summer 2022, this five-act baroque semi-opera, inspired by Shakespeare’s "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" was conceived as a tribute to opera nights in Peralada. The production features dramaturgy by Joan Anton Rechi, musical direction by Dani Espasa, and countertenor Xavier Sabata, one of the artistic minds behind the project, as master of ceremonies. The choral group O Vos Omnes will also take part. 

A few years ago, the Castell de Peralada Foundation announced plans to design a new permanent auditorium for performances, to be complemented by a multipurpose rehearsal hall for artistic residencies and a future performing arts classroom with a museum project. Asked by journalists about the status of the project, director Aguilà responded that details would be shared once a final timeline is in place. “We don’t want delays like with many other projects. When we make an announcement, we want it to be definitive,” he said.