Igualada is set to commemorate the centenary of the births of three prominent figures associated with the city: composer and educator Jaume Padrós, abbot Cassià M. Just, and organist Montserrat Torrent. The local council has launched the Year of Centenaries 2026, an initiative aimed at celebrating their contributions to music and culture while highlighting their connections to Igualada.
The programme includes a booklet detailing the lives and achievements of the honourees, alongside a variety of activities such as exhibitions, lectures, and concerts throughout the year.
Carme Riera y Minguet, the councillor for culture, stated, “The centenary of the birth of these three personalities offers a wonderful opportunity to rediscover their extraordinary paths and to reclaim their Igualada roots. They are three figures who, despite taking very different paths, share values such as talent, effort, excellence, and a commitment to service.”
Celebrating exceptional legacies
Jaume Padrós i Montoriol (1926–2007), a composer and pianist, trained in Catalonia and Paris before establishing himself in Germany, where he had a prolific artistic and educational career. His extensive catalogue includes orchestral works, choral music, ballets, and chamber music, with a notable emphasis on the accordion. His early education at the Escolania de Montserrat played a crucial role in his development.
The Year of Centenaries will feature the exhibition “Jaume Padrós and the Alchemies of Sound,” along with a lecture-performance and a concert showcasing several of his compositions, some of which will be performed for the first time in Catalonia.
Cassià Maria Just i Riba (1926–2008), who served as the abbot of Montserrat, maintained a deep connection with Igualada throughout his life. Growing up in a musical family, he later became a significant figure in the Catalan Church, advocating for human rights and Catalan identity. His centenary will be commemorated with a lecture titled “Abbot Cassià M. Just, One Hundred Years” and a tribute concert at the Basilica of Santa Maria, featuring works by Just and the world premiere of “Concerto for Organ, Orchestra, and Children’s Voices” by composer Carles Cases.
Montserrat Torrent i Serra (born 1926) is regarded as one of Europe’s leading organists and a key figure in Catalan music. With a career spanning over seven decades and more than 1,700 concerts worldwide, she has played a pivotal role in the revival of historical organs and ancient Iberian repertoire. Her achievements have been recognised with numerous awards, including the Creu de Sant Jordi and an honorary doctorate from the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
A programme to engage the community
The Year of Centenaries will continue with various activities over the coming months:
- Jaume Padrós and Montoriol:
- 24 September - 13 October: Exhibition “Jaume Padrós and the Alchemies of Sound” at the Municipal Conservatory of Music of Igualada.
- 10 December: Lecture-performance “Jaume Padrós Montoriol: Life, Work, and Legacy” at the Central Library, presented by Jordi Masó and Olga Morral.
- 14 December: Concert “The Musical Universe of Jaume Padrós” at the Municipal Theatre Ateneo, performed by the Ensemble Jaume Padrós.
- Cassià M. Just:
- 20 November: Lecture “Abbot Cassià M. Just, One Hundred Years” at the Igualada Town Hall, presented by Father Bernabé Dalmau.
- 21 November: Tribute concert for Abbot Cassià M. Just at the Basilica of Santa Maria.
The local council aims for the Year of Centenaries to be a collective celebration involving local entities, institutions, musicians, researchers, and the community. The initiative underscores the importance of preserving the memory of those who have shaped the cultural history of Igualada as a means of projecting the city into the future.
“We want this commemoration not only to honour three extraordinary figures but also to enable new generations to discover and understand the significance of their legacy,” added the councillor for culture. “These are three names that carried the name of Igualada far beyond our city and are rightfully part of our cultural memory.”
The Year of Centenaries 2026 presents an opportunity to celebrate three exceptional legacies while reinforcing knowledge and pride in Igualada’s cultural and musical heritage.
