Pablo Casals

Pau Carles Salvador Casals Defilló, a man of unsurpassed musical talent, was born at El Vendrell, a small town on the Mediterranean Sea, capital of Baix Penedes in Catalonia, Spain, on the 29th of December 1876. He was the son of Carles, parish organist and choirmaster, who made a living out offering piano and singing lessons. His mother, Pilar Defilló, a woman of strength and strong character, had been born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, at the time a territory Spain. Casals was also a composer. His oratorio El Pessebre (The Manger) was performed for the first time in Acapulco, Mexico, on December 17, 1960. He conducted this work around the world as his personal contribution towards world peace. One of his last compositions was the Himno a las Naciones Unidas (Hymn of the United Nations). He conducted its first performance in a special concert at the United Nations on October 24, 1971, two months before his 95th birthday. Casals died in San Juan, Puerto Rico on October 22, 1973, at the age of 96. He was buried in San Juan and after the death of dictator Francisco Franco, his mortal remains were then transferred to his beloved Catalonia.