Music in the Bellver Castle

The Bellver Castle will be the scene next Tuesday, July 2, at 10 p.m. of the fifth concert of the cycle "Ancient Music" organised by the Palma Town Council. The guest group on this occasion is Micrologus, who will perform a repertoire of medieval music, to be precise the profane polyphonies for the Aragon-Napolitain court in the XV century (French, Hispanic and Italian music)

Full information can be found on this Italian formation, dedicated to investigation, study and interpretation of medieval music, on their web: www.micrologus.it

The exceptional site of the Bellver Castle will also hold the concert to be given by the Balearic Symphony Orchestra and the Capella Mallorquina on Saturday 6, at 10 p.m., and also the Festival Bellver that will take place on July 4, 11, 18 and 25 at 10 p.m., also with the Balearic Symphony Orchestra.

BRIEF HISTORIC NOTES ABOUT BELLVER CASTLE

The Bellver Castle was built ordered by King James II of Mallorca in 1300. The builders were Pere Salvà and Pere Despuig. The main characteristic of the castle is its circular form, which makes it a singular building in relation to the European castles of the gothic era. There is also a singular difference between the austere defensive exterior and the palatine architecture of the interior, with pointed arches of the upper gallery.

In its origins, the Castle was conceived as a royal palace. Towards the end of the XIV century, King Juan I of Aragon transferred his court to Bellver, fleeing from the plague that attacked the mainland (1395). In 1400 the civil government of the castle was ceded to the priors of the Cartuja.

During the Germanies revolt, it was a refuge for the nobles and merchantmen who were escaping from the city (1521) and in time, it became the temporary residence of viceroys, together with the Almudaina Palace.

In the XVI century, a great reform was carried out to introduce artillery. The battlements were removed, the south tower was renovated and a moat was constructed.

During the War of Succession the castle was used alternately by the Caroline and Philippine governments as a political prison and in 1717 it was converted in military prison with its own garrison. Under this use, the most important period was the last years of the reign of Carlos IV and the French War. The most popular prison was the Minister of Grace and Justice, Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos (1802-1808), who wrote during his confinement the works: "Memories of the Bellver Castle", "Historical, artistic description of the Bellver Castle" and "Topographic description of Mallorca observed from the Bellver Castle".

Other important prisoners were the French officers beaten in Bailén (1808), who left numerous graffiti. In the Civil War, over 800 people were imprisoned in Bellver, amongst others the member of parliament, Alexandre Jaume i Rosselló, shot in 1937, and the republican mayor, Emili Darder i Cànaves, also executed.

In 1931, the woods and castle were ceded by the central government to the Palma Council with the condition that a museum of antique art would be installed there. In 1947, the Council carried out an integral reform to adapt the castle to the new cultural use and in 1976 the Museu d'Història de la Ciutat de Palma was created. In 1998 and 1999 the last reform was carried out to the Museum and didactic material was edited for pupils. At present, the Council also uses the building for protocol and cultural activities, such as the cycles of classical music.

Photos © BalearWeb

Datum: 25/06/2002

Mallorca >> Nachrichten >> Archiv 1999-2003 >> Music in the Bellver Castle