FeMAP Early Music Festival Draws 5,000 Attendees in 15th Edition Across Pyrenees

The Festival de Música Antiga del Pirineus (FeMAP) wrapped up its 15th edition with more than 5,000 attendees across concerts in Pyrenean municipalities, including Andorra and northern Catalonia, maintaining attendance levels similar to the previous year.

Out of 50 performances, 11 sold out entirely, including the final shows by Bach Collegium Barcelona at the Seminari de la Seu d’Urgell and the Monestir de Sant Pere de Camprodon. Many other events recorded high occupancy, with strong public response to the diverse programme spanning various periods, styles and repertoires of early music. Highlights included the Ensemble Contratemps exploring Afro-Cuban spiritual music and Samira Kadiri & Ensemble Andalusí blending Arab, Sephardic and European traditional songs. The edition featured 23 ensembles in total.

In Andorra, the festival expanded with a new venue at the Romanesque church in Santa Coloma, which hosted José Hernández Pastor on 25 July. Other local sites included the church of Sant Germà in Sant Julià de Lòria and the traditional lakeside concert at Engolasters.

FeMAP director Alfons Pérez called the edition “highly positive”, noting the audience's enthusiasm for the artistic offerings and parallel activities, as well as positive artist feedback on the venues, public reception and organisation.

The festival supported tourism through its Packs Turístics, which generated more than 100 direct overnight stays in the Pyrenees by pairing concerts with accommodations.

Outreach efforts under FeMAP Social provided 24 free concerts in elderly residences, mental health centres and facilities serving underserved groups.

Public broadcasters Ràdio Nacional and Catalunya Música recorded performances by 17 of the 23 groups to extend the festival's reach beyond the summer season.