Born in Martorell, Josep Palet began working in his family’s pastry shop, but he soon discovered his passion for bel canto. He took some lessons with Maestro Paredes, and shortly afterward, a cousin introduced him to the industrialist Ramon Batlló. After recognizing Palet’s talent, Batlló became his patron. Palet continued his studies with Joan Goula and, at the age of 23, made his debut at the Liceu in Barcelona with the opera La Favorita, achieving great success.
From that moment on, Josep Palet achieved triumph after triumph wherever he performed. In the following years, he toured the theaters of Europe and America. He was applauded in venues such as the Teatro Real in Madrid, where he performed in several seasons, in Lisbon, and throughout Italy, where he appeared in its most important operatic centers. By the 1910s, Palet had settled permanently in Milan with his wife, the Italian Luisa Eringio. It was in this city that he debuted at the Teatro alla Scala in 1911, a performance that marked his definitive consecration.
From Italy, Palet expanded his career to America: the United States, Canada, Cuba, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela. He also performed in Egypt, the Netherlands, Portugal, Hungary, Greece, and Switzerland, dazzling audiences in all these locations. However, Palet never forgot Barcelona or Martorell. In Barcelona, he gave several performances at the Liceu, and in Martorell, he also sang on several occasions. His first performance in his hometown was in 1915 during a series of charitable festivities.
On that occasion, a stage was set up at Hort dels Convents, renamed Teatre Natura for the event, featuring spectacular sets created especially by Liceu scenographers. On August 14 and 15 of that year, coinciding with the town’s Festa Major, Palet performed Verdi’s Aïda and Vives’s popular Marina. Other performances took place at the Círcol Republicà Federal between 1930 and 1932. From 1936 onward, Palet retired to Milan, where he achieved great renown. He passed away suddenly while traveling on a tram in 1946.
The key to Palet’s success lay in his ability to modulate his voice at will. His diction was excellent, both in high, sharp tones and in low, smooth ones, a skill that lent him a highly personal character and great naturalness in his interpretations. Furthermore, Palet had one of the most extensive operatic repertoires of his time; it was said that he knew more than ninety operas. In fact, he triumphed in works where others struggled, such as Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots or Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.
In 1946, Martorell paid him a great tribute, proclaiming him “Favorite Son of the Town.” During this event, a commemorative plaque was placed on his birthplace at 18 Santacana Street. The celebration concluded with a performance of Puccini’s Tosca at the café-theater El Progrés.
In 2017, the city of Martorell commemorated the 140th anniversary of Josep Palet’s birth by founding the Josep Palet International Singing Competition, which has been held annually ever since.
