Famous Catalans

When I was in the sixth grade, I played the cello. There was a teacher at school who always used to ask me if I knew who "Pablo Casals" was. I didn't at the time (although I had met Rostropovich once at a concert). Actually, Pablo Casals' real name was Pau Casals, Pau being the Catalan equivalent of Pablo¹.

In addition to being an amazing cellist, Pau Casals is remembered in this country for his empassioned speech against nuclear proliferation at the United Nations², which he began by saying, "I am a Catalan. Catalonia is an oppressed nation."