Cellnex Foundation collaborates in digitalisation of documentary image collection of Castell de Peralada Festival

• In this initial phase, the inventory comprises 21,000 documents, including photographs, illustrations and other files collected over the 35-year history of the Castell de Peralada Private Foundation-backed international music and dance competition.
• The collaboration of the Cellnex Foundation and technology will enable easier access to the cultural and historical wealth of this documentary archive, ensuring that future generations can enjoy it as well.

Barcelona, 20th October 2021. The Cellnex Foundation and Castell de Peralada Foundation have signed a collaboration agreement that will lay the groundwork for modernising and digitalising the documentary image collection of the Castell de Peralada International Festival, held for 35 years in this town in Girona province. The project will enable the digital transformation of this documentary collection of more than 50,000 photographs, illustrations and other viewable documents. The festival stage has been graced by the leading national and international names in music, dance and creation, including Montserrat Caballé, Plácido Domingo and Josep Carreras, as well as Rudolf Nureyev, Maya Plisetskaya, Mstislav Rostropovich, Roland Petit, Maurice Béjart and many, many more.

This initiative will facilitate digital access to the documentary collection, which will be available to the public via the internet. Highlights among the images/documents awaiting digitalisation are great moments in the history of the performing arts, like Calixto Bieto’s Carmen, which stirred up controversy in its day but is still around more than 20 years since premiering at the Festival, as well as unforgettable moments in music such as Josep Carrera’s return to the stage after overcoming leukemia, a performance that was heard round the world.

The Cellnex Foundation will provide the necessary material and human resources for digitalising the archive. Digital rendering of the 21,000 images in the first phase of the documentary collection is expected to be complete by 2023, although both parties may extend their collaboration agreement beyond this date.

The Castell de Peralada Festival is recognised for its excellence, tradition, avant-gardism and innovation. And thanks to technology and support from the Cellnex Foundation, accessing the festival’s cultural and historical treasures will be even easier, so future generations can enjoy them too. At the same time, the participation of artists and companies of great international acclaim highlights the Festival’s trajectory and commitment, including to independent productions, as well as its support for composers, creators and emerging talents.

Lluís Deulofeu, President of the Cellnex Foundation stated “We are very happy to be able to collaborate with the Castell de Peralada Private Foundation in the digitalisation of its archive and help preserve its documents so they can be viewed online by professional musicians, researchers and festival fans anywhere in the world and at any time. With technology and connectivity, we are making culture and this great documentary heritage more accessible, ensuring that they can be studied in the future.”

For her part, Isabel Suqué Mateu, President of the Castell de Peralada Foundation, was “thrilled that the Cellnex Foundation wanted to get on board with plans to digitalise the Castell de Peralada Festival Archive. This project is driven by a desire to preserve our history, which constitutes, in its own right, a very important chapter in the history of music, opera, performing arts and dance in our country. My parents, Carmen Mateu and Arturo Suqué, worked tirelessly to make the Castell de Peralada Festival a benchmark in opera and dance in southern Europe. When you explore the archive, what shines through is the Festival’s spectacular and unique legacy and it is a special treat to be able to share it with everyone.”

                                          Lluís Deulofeu, President of the Cellnex Foundation and Isabel Suqué Mateu, President of the Castell de Peralada

About the Cellnex Foundation

The Cellnex Foundation, backed by Cellnex Telecom, works to reduce existing digital, social and territorial divides through initiatives that improve access to connectivity. It also works to promote positive solutions for the environment.

Its business model is based on three pillars: Proprietary programmes led by the Foundation, joint programmes executed in alliance with other organisations and institutions, and corporate volunteering.

For more information: https://www.cellnextelecom.com/en/the-cellnex-foundation/

About the Castell de Peralada Foundation

The Castell de Peralada Foundation was established by the Suqué-Mateu family to stimulate, foster and coordinate cultural activities. Particularly important among them are the Castell de Peralada International Music Festival and, since 2019, the Carmen Mateu Young Artist European Award, Opera and Dance. Its objectives also include national and international promotion of the Empordà – Costa Brava destination through sports, service, civic and social projects.

The entity is part of the Peralada Group, a family business corporation present in sectors such as leisure, culture, viticulture and industry.

For more information: https://www.grupperalada.com