10,000 turn out for Lledoners concert

Around 9,000 people yesterday attended a concert in which 500 singers and musicians performed Handel’s Messiah outside the Lledoners prison. The aim was to show support at Christmastime to the seven pro-independence leaders locked up in the prison, as well as Carme Forcadell and Dolors Bassa, both in women’s prisons. Despite the cold, the audience sat in silence listening to the concert by 450 amateur singers and 50 professional musicians, conducted by Alfred Cañamero.

The concert began at 12 noon, when the prisoners leave their cells. Applause was avoided to ensure the music reached the jailed leaders Jordi Sánchez, Jordi Cuixart, Jordi Turull, Raül Romeva, Josep Rull, Joaquim Forn and Oriol Junqueras. Spokeswoman for the organisers, Eulàlia Espona, said “individuals had set up the event in the same way that the country can bring together individuals to overcome very important challenges.”