Tour 2024: Barcelona

The Best for Last in Barcelona

By Emily Tang

On the morning of our final concert, we awoke to a gloomy and very rainy morning in Barcelona. The chaotic and energy-filled day began with a visit to la Sagrada Família, the most famous basilica in all of Spain. Antoni Gaudí’s famously unfinished, towering piece of art loomed over us as we huddled under umbrellas that clearly weren’t meant for our clusters of three or four. We were split into several entrance groups, and despite some hiccups with exit time and regrouping, we all eventually made it safely back on the bus.

The pan of paella at Marina Bay being paraded around before getting served

A short drive later, we arrived at Marina Bay, a cozy restaurant seated right by the shore. By now, the rain had stopped and the warm lights and atmosphere in the restaurant provided the perfect opportunity for everyone to dry off and recover from the morning. It was there that I had fresh paella from probably the largest pan I’ve ever seen in my life. Because the pit stop back at the hotels after lunch had been canceled, we were left with an hour to explore the small town we were in. My friends and I found a small coffee shop located under the local university’s building before returning to the buses for a group photo. After another quick ride on the bus, we made it to the venue.

Post-concert photo of the hall from the stage

With its literal translation being “the Palace of Music,” la Palau de la Música Catalana did not disappoint. Located between the narrow, bustling streets, was our home for the afternoon. For seven hours, I fawned over the glittering tiles decorating the ceilings and walls, incredibly intricate stained glass lining the interior, and delicate sculptures of figures surrounding the terraced stage. I spent the time before rehearsal helping the percussion roll equipment through the narrow halls of the backstage area. Looking back, there’s no other way I would’ve spent that hour than getting to meet new friends to laugh and joke with.

Maybe it was the realization, especially for the graduating seniors, that this was our final concert of the tour, or the sheer beauty of the venue, or the fact that Dr. Tay pulled out his extra fancy tailcoat outfit. Whatever the case, it was that night that I truly felt like the once missing puzzle piece in our orchestra was found, and we burst with artistry, leaving it all on stage.

From a technical, splitting-hairs standpoint, it wasn’t a flawless concert. But as I looked up during the last chord of Dvorak, bow in the air, eyes watery with inexplicable joy and gratitude, I saw not only the (also) teary-eyed faces of my friends, peers, and Dr. Tay, but also those in the audience: the family sitting on the balcony directly facing me, the young children in the front row, and everyone in between, stretched across the beautiful hall. In the short minutes we stood for our fake final bow, I laughed thinking about how ten minutes before the concert, I had peeked at the monitor backstage and worried about getting a disappointingly small crowd. Boy was I wrong. I don’t think I’m alone when I say that Barcelona’s audience was by far my favorite of the entire tour, and I felt their enthusiasm radiate, creating a reflection of our own excited spirit on the stage.

The cello section on stage after the concert with Dr. Tay

But there was no time to cry. Quickly locking in for everybody’s favorite encore, I watched as Dr. Tay gave us his signature grin, and as soon as the energetic first notes of Mambo filled the hall, I knew this one would be different from any of the preceding concerts. The brass section pierced through the ensemble with every entrance, everybody’s “Mambo!”’s were the loudest they’ve been, especially the winds’ impromptu one in the middle, and the percussion thundered through my ears with unreal precision. Not to brag, but the highlight for me will always be the cello spin, which was as perfect as ever that night. Of course, we couldn’t let our streak of playing double encores end there. Standing there, face glistening with sweat, bow hairs clinging to their last lives, I glanced up after our final note to see that the lavish glass ceiling had transformed from its daytime light rainbow to its evening attire of elegant, deep indigo.

The hour following the concert was a fever dream. I remember the vicious battle onstage to take photos with Dr. Tay as well as with everyone’s respective sections and friend groups. Looking back, I wish I had stayed back for just a minute longer, to slowly roam through the backstage halls and marble staircases. Taking in Palau felt like trying to drink a lake. Outside, I must have taken and been in double the number of photos in that singular hour than I had the entire trip. Admittedly, I cried a bit on the bus ride home listening to the second movement of Dvorak, but they were happy tears.

Plaja Barceloneta

My last day in Barcelona was filled with good food and good company. Our friend group split up for lunch, and I ended up at a small restaurant right across the street from the Palau! After strolling through the gorgeous Gothic Quarter, known for its unique architecture and history, we regrouped at the beach, Platja Barceloneta. Despite having forgotten towels, we all ran into the refreshing and cool water anyway. After taking a bit of time back at the hotels to freshen up, we headed to farewell dinner. Surrounded by an enchanting atmosphere of greenery and ambient lights, we laughed through the evening accompanied with heaping plates of paella and pork cuts the size of our hands. I don’t think anyone could hold it together during Seth’s thank you speech, or for me, when Kaleb handed over our signed gift to Dr. Tay. As cliché as it sounds, parts of me remain scattered overseas, in my seat onstage at Palau, at my farewell dinner table, on the warm sand of the beach. But one day I know I will revisit all of them again. Until then, I think I’ll avoid olive oil and tomatoes for a while.