On 17 November 2025, the Board of Trustees of the Gran Teatre del Liceu presented, posthumously, the Gold Medal to Dr Joan Uriach Marsal, founder and president of the Uriach Foundation, who passed away in December 2024, in recognition of his affection for and philanthropic commitment to the Liceu and to Catalan culture more broadly.
A businessman and patron of the arts with a strong artistic and cultural sensibility, he was noted for his close ties to Barcelona’s business, social and cultural fabric, and for his active involvement in key cultural institutions in the country. His inclusive vision and his commitment to the development of culture, and opera in particular, have left a valuable legacy, which also earned him the Creu de Sant Jordi in 1987.