Palau Musica - concert plus tour?

I'm not sure what else you'd see on a tour that you won't see going to a concert. Before the concert that I attended we were permitted into the lobby/bar area and of course the major 'site' is the main hall. Before bothering with taking a tour I'd check to see if there are other areas and how important they are. Seeing a concert there was wonderful.

You should see everything at your concert.

Thanks Isabel and Stephen - that's what I was thinking but just wanted to be sure!

I hope you enjoy the concert. We went to a couple on our trip in April 2019. You should be able to walk around and do your own tour.
It is a beautiful concert hall and building. The restaurant across from the front doors is really good!

When I visited they started selling a combination tour-and-concert ticket a few days ahead. It wasn't a "high end concert" but it was a good deal for me. I got a guided tour that included the outside balcony, the main hall from several seating areas, and a lot of information. I'm sure I saw more than I would have seen just going to the concert.

The concert I saw was a solo pianist and a solo soprano with piano accompaniment. I was impressed but they weren't performances I'd have gone to see elsewhere. Nonetheless, the concert experience in a place I had already toured added a worthwhile dimension. My advice would be to buy the combo if it's available. If you have to choose between the tour and a concert, base your choice on the merits of the concert from your perspective.

We enjoyed one of their guided tours - about one hour - suggest to pre-book online in advance as they are popular. I guess it depends if you just want to "see" the concert hall during a performance, or know more about it from an architectural/art perspective. For me, it was one of the architectural highlights of Barcelona - and I love visiting famous concert halls wherever we travel.

Go to a concert that you're interested in, arrive early, but take the time between now and then to read up on some of the details of the architect (colleague of Gaudi) and the time period so you can appreciate what you see a little better. Many of the shows are the Iberian equivalent of pops concerts but if you look at the full calendar you may find a classical program that you'd enjoy.

I only took a tour - about 3 years ago. It began with a 20-30 minute video that was interesting. Then the entrance, the concert hall, and the outside balcony, with lots of time to see each bit and take photos with few or no people in them.

One thing I remember vividly from the video is that Zubin Mehta said the acoustics were superb. So if you are going to a classical music concert, choose seats that will give you the best views of the hall - probably the center of the balcony facing the stage. If you were going to a flamenco or guitar concert, you would probably want a closer view of the stage.

On the ground floor there is also a cafeteria and a gift shop. It's worth it to stop in to see it if you are in the area at another time - also beautiful and the cafeteria has reasonable prices.

We have attended two concerts at Palua Musica and cannot recommend it enough. We arrived early to visit the gift shop and have a bite to eat at the restaurant across the street. We loved our box seats in zone A that looked directly down on the stage. At intermission, we wandered around the concert hall and took photos (note that photos are not allowed during the performance.) It was a very memorable experience.

Thank you all for your replies. I can't decipher the seating chart for the concert hall - would love to sit in the first row of the balcony but the diagram is so confusing to me. Yes, it doesn't probably matter where we sit, but since I'm a nut about these types of things and all seats seem to be available for the March 11, I'd love to pick the seat I want If anyone is familiar with the seating chart I would greatly appreciate your advice. I've even emailed the concert hall with no reply.

Mary, buying tickets online is hard enough. Trying to explain graphic information in words is even worse. But, this is Europe, so you want “1er” or First Floor, the floor just above the ground floor. You want the dark green (?) unbroken arc mid-top center, which is “1er Central.” When you click on it, it shows the individual seats.

I didn’t think our tour of the Palau added much to the opportunity to view the actual auditorium. But a huge number of travelers, like those who hire guides at many of the places they visit, don’t want to risk overlooking anything or to have to do their own reading or research. Which travel style appeals to you? We took the tour because there was no show we could get into during our visit.

Thanks Tim, but someone on TripAdvisor was able to help me so already bought my tickets!

marygarlough, I am late to this thread but will add that you are in for a real treat. The Palau de la Musica was at the top of our "highlights list" in Barcelona. We are fans of Art Noveau & architect LluísDomènech i Monaner. In addition to the incredible facade of this treasured building the interior is spectacular! Enjoy the venue. We have fond memories. Los mejores deseos.

Thanks Janis - I purchased tickets for Vivaldi's Four Seasons. I am so excited to be in this concert hall hearing one of my favorites pieces - yes, it will be a treat!!

marygarlough, even better! We tend to find a Vivaldi Concert wherever we travel, (especially the Four Seasons!) Our most recent was Prague (September) and Venice last year. We never tire of Vivaldi. ;)