Classical Music in Mallorca: Music Recitals in Majorca
also see Events Calendar for Mallorca: Event Dates for Majorca

Classical Music & Festivals in Mallorca

Mallorca has a thriving classical music scene. With venues such as the Palma Auditorium, Palma Arena and a number of grand theatres, the capital is well equipped for a varied programme of events. Many of the smaller towns have theatres and also hold classical festivals during the summer months. Many of these festivals take place annually and attract international artists, along with international audiences.

The Bellver Music Festival (July) and ‘Serenates d’Estiu’ (August) take place in the superb grounds of Bellver Castle in Palma. The Chopin Festival (August) takes place in the equally impressive Cloister of the Carthusian Monaster of Valldemossa. The Deià International Music Festival (April to September) is held in the grounds of the Son Marroig estate; and the Pollença Festival (July/August) in the Cloister of Sant Domingo.

Classical music concerts at the Bellver Festival

Bellver castle is the spectacular setting for a series of classical music concerts held at the Bellver Festival every summer. Set high above the city of Palma, the concerts are performed by the Balearic Symphony Orchestra every Thursday throughout July. These annual concerts are organised by the City of Palma, and this year include guest performances by violinist Ara Malikian, flautist Enrique Sanchez, and soprano Aga Mikolaj. Performances start at 10pm, with gates opening at 8.30pm. Prices start from €25. For more information and booking details, please see www.simfonicadebalears.com

Deia International Music Festival

The Deia International Music Festival was conceived 27 years ago, when a group of local amateur and professional musicians decided to perform a series of concerts in Llush-Alcari and the church in Deia, under the name Paramusical Workshop. As these concerts became popular, the group gathered the interest of local businesses, which allowed the organisers to arrange bigger and better productions that became the Deia International Music Festival.

The quality and quantity of the guest artists has been growing steadily ever since. The Festival started with a vocal ensemble formed by locals from the village of Deia, performing with musicians from the Balearic Symphony Orchestra. Year after year almost every artist from the islands got the opportunity to perform for the Festival at the Son Marroig Manor House or Deia Church. Numerous other renowned performing artists from Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Munich, London, New York, Berlin, Athens, and Moscow have made this a truly international music festival.

The festival runs from April to September, with concerts being held on mainly Thursdays, with some weekend performances. Both Son Marroig and Deia church are small intimate venues with seating for around 200 guests. For more information on the programme and the festival, please see the official Deia International Music Festival website.

Chopin Classical Music Festival, Valldemossa

In 1930, the Mallorcan composer Joan Maria Thomàs created the Chopin Festival - the first in the world - with the assistance of the Boutroux-Ferrà couple, who offered him a room in the Carthusian Monastery in Valldemossa to act as the Festival's headquarters. Between 1931 and 1936 this musical enterprise hosted the most significant composers and performers of the early twentieth century. Throughout its lifetime, the Festival has welcomed to the Cloister of the Monastery award-winning pianists in the Warsaw Chopin Competitions. Pianists of international renown have endowed international prestige on the association. In 1983 the Festival was opened to contemporary artists, many of whom were inspired by Chopin's music or scenery. Important painters, photographers, sculptors or ceramicists have exhibited their work in the Monastery's Chapter House and have also designed posters, programmes and T-shirts for the Festival.

The concerts are held every August in the spectacular grounds of the Carthusian Monastery in Valldemossa. Performances start at 10pm. For more information and to view the programme, you can visit the official website, Festival Chopin.

Pollenca Music Festival

The Festival de Pollença has been an international event for lovers of fine music since it was founded in 1962 by the renowned violinist Philip Newman. Every year, a series of performances fill two summer months in one of the Mediterranean’s finest destinations: Pollença, at the northernmost tip of gorgeous Majorca.

Past performances have showcased some of the finest musicians in the world, from pop, jazz, and traditional music to the ‘classical’ works that characterize the history of the Festival. The medieval Cloisters of Santo Domingo and the world-famous Balearic scenery and climate provide rich and evocative surroundings for the equally complex and lovely music.

Performances are held in July and August on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and the event of bad weather, concerts are transferred to an indoor venue. A smart dress code is observed. More information can be found on their website Festival de Pollença.