On Tuesday, 5th May, at 6:30 p.m., the conference linked to the Figueres Clàssica cycle, “Mercedes Moner, great pianist from Figueres and favourite pupil of Granados”, will take place at the Figueres Library. The conference, which has been organised by the Fages de Climent Library, the Casino Menestral Figuerenc and the Associació Joan Manén, will be given by the musicologist Anna Fusté Labaila.

Mercedes Moner i Raguer (Figueres, 1892–1991) was an eminent pianist from Figueres and a favourite pupil of Enric Granados. Considered by critics as the best performer of the Romantic repertoire of her time, she had made works of extreme difficulty —such as Beethoven’s Hammerklavier— her hallmark. Moner was responsible for premiering Liszt’s Grand Sonata in Spain and was the first to hear Goyescas, and therefore the one who worked on them, perfected them and disseminated them following Granados’s indications.

Although supposed modesty on her part and, above all, family veto led her to renounce a career as a top-level performer, her recurring performances in musical salons and conservatories led her to play for personalities such as Joan Maragall, Eugeni d’Ors or Eusebi Güell at a national level, and for Sauer —one of her most enthusiastic admirers—, Fauré, Pinelli or Isolda Wagner, among others, at an international level.

In this conference, Anna Fusté Labaila, pianist and musicologist specialised in the role of women composers and performers, will analyse how Moner’s family environment influenced her professionally and will trace her trajectory as a pianist. Likewise, Fusté’s research contributes to expanding the Historic Catalan Performers project with the incorporation of a key figure of Catalan musical heritage.

Activity linked to the Figueres Clàssica 2026 cycle.

Organised by: Fages de Climent Library, Casino Menestral Figuerenc and Associació Joan Manén.