Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926)
Antoni Placid Gaudí i Cornet was a Catalan architect and the most outstanding exponent of Catalan modernism. He studied architecture in Barcelona and worked in various architectural offices, including Francisco de Paula de Villar. In 1878 Gaudí opened his own architectural office in Barcelona. In 1883 he took over the construction of the “Sagrada Familia” church, which he would not finish his entire life. The landmark of Barcelona is still not finished, Gaudí himself worked on it for 43 years until his death and in the end even slept in the crypt and lived neglected in a small hut near the church. He was hit by a tram on June 7, 1926 and died three days later. By order of the government he was buried in the crypt of the Sagrada Familia, which was also approved by the Pope. Gaudí has become world famous with his architectural style. His buildings appear organic and partly as if they were integrated into nature. Its ceramic tiles and mosaics also shape the city of Barcelona to this day. In addition to the Sagrada Familia, his works include the Casa Milá, the Casa Batlló, the Park and Palu Güell and the Bishop’s Palace in Astorga. Check a2zdirectory for more about Spain.
Estanislao Figueras y Moragas (1819-1882)
The Spanish politician belonged to the “Partido Progresista” party and took part in the 1848 liberal uprisings. From 1949 he was a member of the Democratic Party, which arose from a split of the Partido Progresista. In 1851 he became a Member of Parliament for Tarragona. He advocated a republican government, the decentralization of the state and the separation of church and state. In 1967 he was sentenced to prison and fled to Portugal. In 1873 he was elected president of the “Primera República”, although he only held this post for 5 months. Due to the economic crisis and a split within his own party, he fled to France. When he returned in 1880 he founded his own party, the “Partido Republicano Federal Orgánico”, but died a short time later.
Francisco Pi y Margall (1824-1901)
The Spanish politician, thinker and writer was the second president of the Primera República in Spain. Pi defended his republican ideology all his life and distinguished himself as a historian, journalist, art critic, philosopher and economist. His doctrine shows influences from Hegel, Rousseau and Proudhon and his way of thinking is considered to be one of the most revolutionary of the 19th century.
Joan Miró (1893-1983)
The Spanish painter, printmaker and sculptor studied at the Barcelona Art Academy. In Paris he worked with Max Ernst and Alexander Calder, in Cité de Fusains also with Jean Arp and Pierre Bonnard, he also knew Wassiliy Kandinsky. The important representative of surrealism also created ceramics and bronze sculptures. A selection of his works include “Carnival of the Harlequins”, “Figure Throwing a Stone at a Bird” at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, “Composition (Small Universe)” in the Fondation Beyeler, Basel, “Nocturne” in the Cleveland Museum of Art, “Mercury Fountain” in memory of the miners who died while mining the mercury in Almadem, “Sitting Woman”, “The Poet”, “Person and dog in front of the sun” in the Basel Art Collection, “Composition with Cords” in the Stedelijk Van Abbe Museum, Eindhoven and “The ladders run through the blue sky as a bicycle”.
Ricardo Zamora Martínez (1901-1978)
The soccer player was one of the most important goal keepers in ball sport. Throughout his career he played with three clubs: Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol. Nicknamed “El Divino” (the Divine), he made his debut against Denmark at the age of 19. After his playing career, he coached Atlético de Madrid, Celta de Vigo, RCD Espanyol and Málaga, among others.
Joan Capri (1917-2000)
A memorial was built for this humorist in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona as one of the most famous and respected Catalan artists of the 20th century. The real name of the successful actor was Joan Camprubi Alamany. He played numerous roles at the “Teatro Romea de Barcelona”, including in the pieces “El amigo del ministro” and “Qué vaya de gusto, Sr. comisario”. One of his greatest successes was the television series “El Dr. Caparrós”, where he played the title role. He has lived in Barcelona all his life and is loved and adored by the Catalans and has won several awards. His films include “Los Felices 60” and “El abagado, el alcalde y el notario”.
José Luis Sampedro (born 1917)
The Spanish writer and economist became a member of the “Real Academia Española” in 1990. He taught as a professor at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. His economic works include “Principios prácticos de localización industrial”, “Realidad económica y análisis estructural”, “Conciencia del subdesarrollo”, “Las fuerzas económicas de nuestro tiempo”, “Inflación: una versión completa y la global mercado” “,” Los mongoles en Baghdad “. His most important novels include “La sonrisa etrusca”, “La vieja sirena”, “Real sitio”, “La estatua de Adolfo Espejo”, “La sombra de los días” and “El amante lesbiano”.
Carmen Laforet (1921-2004)
The Spanish writer studied philosophy and law in Barcelona, but did not choose either of the two subjects. In 1944 she won a prize for her novel “Nada” and consequently turned to literature for good. “La Isla y los Demonios”, “La Mujer Nueva” and “La Insolación” are among her other works. She has been awarded other prizes, including the “Premio Fastenrath” and the “Real Academia Española”.
Antoni Tàpies i Puig (born 1923)
The expressionist painter and sculptor is considered one of the best artists of the 20th century. He was a co-founder of the Dau al Set movement, which is related to Surrealism and Dadaism. His first work was influenced by Paul Klee and Joan Miró, but his style soon changed and he turned to abstract expressionism. He used materials like paper, marble dust, and string. 1953 gave Tàpies his first exhibition in New York. In the 70s, influenced by “Pop Art”, he built more solid works, for example pieces of furniture. The artist’s works have been exhibited in the most important museums in the world. In 1990 the “Antoni TÀpies Foundation” was opened, an institution that the artist himself founded to support contemporary art.
Jordi Pujol (born 1930)
The politician Jordi Pujol y Soley headed the “Convergència Democràtica de Catalunya” party from 1974 to 2003. The CDC is a member of the CiU coalition. In 1960 Pujol was arrested and sentenced by the Franco regime to seven years in prison for insurgent activities and organization of resistance. Pujol was tortured several times during his detention, but was released from prison after two and a half years. He immediately organized a new political left with the slogan “construyendo el país” (building the country). He wanted to raise awareness among the Catalans and create cultural and financial institutions for the development of Catalonia. In 1980 he became president of the “Convergència Democràtica de Catalunya” party he founded
Montserrat Caballé (born 1933)
The Spanish opera singer, famous for her vocal technique and her enormous repertoire, studied at the Conservatory of Music in Barcelona for 12 years. The charismatic artist interpreted more than 80 opera characters in operas by Verdi, Strauss, Wagner, Puccini and others, she sang at La Scala in Milan, the Royal Opera House in London, Carnegie Hall in New York and on almost all other famous stages in pieces like La Bohème, Tosca and Salome. She is a volunteer ambassador for UNESCO and, together with Freddie Mercury, wrote the pop song “Barcelona”, which became the national anthem of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.
Amparo Baró (born 1937)
The Catalan actress began her career in the theater with Adolfo Marsillach. The role of the communist Sole in “7 vidas” made her famous, with other roles in films such as “Noviembre” and “Al otro lado del túnel” and “Tierra de todos” she won numerous awards.
Manuel Vázquez Montalbán (1939-2003)
Montalban had almost immeasurable skills. He described himself as a journalist, novelist, poet, essayist, anthologist, humorist, critic and restaurateur, and in fact he stood out in all areas for his enormous productivity. He studied philosophy and humanities in Barcelona and was a member of the Partit Socialista Unificat de Catalunya (PSUC). Particularly noteworthy are his works “Los mares del Sur” and “Galíndez”, for which he received the “Premio Planeta” and the National Prize for Literature. Some of his successful essays are “Crónica sentimental de España”, “Joan Manuel Serrat”, “El libro gris de Televisión Española”, “Diccionario del Franquismo”, “Panfleto desde el planeta de los simios”, ”
Josep María Flotats i Picas (born 1939)
The actor and theater director initially worked for a long time in the French theater. In 1983 he returned to Barcelona and became a member of the Gran Teatre del Liceu de Barcelona, where he played Don Juan. He was director of the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya, in 2001 he made his debut as a director at the Teatro Real de Madrid with the opera Cosi fan tutte by Mozart, which he also conducted in Barcelona in 2003.
Albert Boadella (born 1943)
The actor, dramaturge and director is one of the most important personalities of the Catalan and Spanish theater of the 20th century and one of the most committed intellectuals of his time. His harsh criticisms of public figures (politicians like Aznar or Jordi Pujol and artists like Salvador Dalí) made him a much controversial figure.
Josep Carrereas (born 1946)
The Spanish tenor José Carreras is famous for his interpretations of Verdi and Puccini. He achieved worldwide fame as one of the three tenors alongside Luciano Pavarotti and Plácido Domingo. In 1987 he fell ill with leukemia. He overcame the serious illness and in 1988 founded his international “José Carreras Foundation” against leukemia.
Loles León (born 1952)
The Catalan actress met the director Pedro Almodóvar in Madrid and made the film “Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios” (1987) with him.
Isabel Coixet (born 1962)
The Spanish director worked as a journalist for the magazine “Fotogramas” after completing her studies at the University of Barcelona. In favor of her cinematic career, she later went to the USA and made films such as “Cosas que nunca te dije” and “My Life Without Me”.
Fernando Guillén Cuervo (born 1963)
The director, actor and screenwriter was born into a family of actors and thus grew into his later career at an early age. His most recent films include “Los novios búlgaros”, “No te fallaré”, “Vorvik” and “Días de invierno”.
Carlos Ruiz Zafón (born 1964)
The works of the Spanish writer are characterized by a particularly elaborate narrative technique and an expressionist aesthetic. He combines different elements to his immense technical register and creates fascinating figures in an artistic way. His first adult novel, The Shadow of the Wind, was a huge success and has been translated into 36 languages. Ruiz Zafón also writes for the newspapers “La Vanguardia” and “El País”.
Adriá Collado (born 1972)
After studying at the Universidad Autónoma in Barcelona, he went to the theater and played in plays by Christopher Marlowe, among others. He got several roles in television series and shortly afterwards began to make films: he won an award as a young actor and worked with important directors such as Carlos Saura, in whose film “Buñuel y la mesa del rey Salomón” he played the role of the young writer Federico García Lorca played.
Daniel Brühl (born 1978)
The Spanish-German actor was born to a German father and a Spanish mother in Barcelona and grew up in Cologne. He celebrated successes mainly in Germany with films such as “Good Bye, Lenin”, “Los edukadores”, “Vaya con Dios” and “Don’t regret anything”.
He has been in a relationship with the psychologist Felicitas Rombold since 2010 and has had a son with her since 2016.