Reopened Theater Holds Concert with Plants as Audience

A concert was held at a theater in Barcelona, Spain, with an audience consisting entirely of houseplants. The Gran Teatre del Liceu reopened in June and held its first concert since being forced to close its doors in March. A string ensemble called the UceLi Quartet played in front of a variety of houseplants that occupied the theater’s 2,292 seats. Human audiences were invited to watch the concert from the comfort of their own homes via live streaming. According to the theater’s artistic director, the concert was a way to highlight people’s deprivation of the experience of being part of an audience when the country was in lockdown. Conceptual artist and event creator Eugenio Ampudia added that the concert was a reflection of the crisis and isolation that people in Spain and the rest of the world have gone through. The concert’s organizers hope the unique event was able to encourage people to re-examine how they interact with nature now that quarantine restrictions in the country have been lifted and most people there are free to go out again. Following the concert, the theater issued a press release stating that the event was a symbolic act that shows the value of art, music, and nature. The event was also meant to offer a different perspective on people’s return to their normal activities. The concert organizers donated the plants, which were selected from local nurseries, to 2,292 health care professionals. They wanted to recognize the efforts of those on the frontlines who have worked tirelessly in the battle against Covid-19.