Last Tuesday, March 11th, at 7:00 PM, physician and charity worker Dr. Pedro Clarós presented his latest work, Tertulias Nocturnas, at the Círculo Ecuestre in Barcelona, accompanied by singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat, one of the book's featured subjects.
After a welcome from the Círculo Ecuestre's president, Enrique Lacalle, the Otorhinolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery specialist began a discussion about the book with Serrat. Together they discussed life, friendship, music, medicine, journalism, and other topics featured in the work.
Taking the floor, and after joking that the event coincided with his beloved F.C. Barcelona's match, Serrat explained that Tertulias Nocturnas is a book of conversations with 23 chapters, which can be read independently. Among the illustrious figures featured in the book are journalist Pilar Eyre, reporter Mayka Navarro, journalist Víctor Amela, high-ranking military officers, professors, university rectors, artists, and bishops.
Serrat praised the work of Dr. Clarós, with whom he maintains a close friendship. "He has done a lot for me", said the singer-songwriter, highlighting the doctor's dedication. For his part, Clarós expressed that "there are many things that unite us, and I wanted to capture that friendship in the book because it is fundamental".
One of the most moving moments of the presentation was when Clarós explained that his discussion with Serrat closes the book because, in his words, "after that, there was little more I could say". In it, the two reflect on the evolution of the world from his childhood to the present.
Serrat emphasized: "This gentleman has written a magnificent book. It is a book of conversations, not interviews. You can read it in a disorganized way, because each chapter stands alone". He also emphasized the respect for each character's voice: "The guest speaker's participation is transmitted to the paper with complete naturalness, revealing each person's voice without manipulation".
During the conversation, the singer-songwriter shared one of the quotes that most moved him from the book: "Respect for diversity goes beyond tolerance and understanding; it involves actively recognizing and promoting the equal value of all people". He also emphasized the book's essence, saying: "This book is the glory of friends, of telling each other things, of learning, and of describing a lot".
Grateful for Serrat's words, Dr. Clarós emphasized their longstanding friendship and added: "Out of 10,000, I would recognize your larynx", referring to the singer's.
The event also featured a speech by journalist Mayka Navarro, who, laughing, recalled her first consultation with Dr. Clarós. Likewise, journalist Víctor Amela, present in the room, was highlighted by the author as the subject of a special chapter, "A Contra de la Contra," referring to the interviews Amela publishes in La Vanguardia.
Dr. Clarós, Consultant at the Gran Teatro del Liceu, shared anecdotes collected in the book, such as the story of singer Rubén Amoretti, who, due to a hormonal problem, went from being a light tenor to a deep bass. "One of the protagonists of the book, Rubén Amoretti, went from being a light tenor to a deep bass due to a hormonal problem. When I asked him how it had affected him, he told me: 'I earn more money now because there are many tenors, but few basses'".
He also highlighted the influence of the scientist Ramón y Cajal on his life: "One of the chapters is dedicated to Ramón y Cajal, because his scientific curiosity deeply influenced me".
To conclude, Clarós explained the origin of the book, stating that "it was born from sharing bread and wine and then committing that conversation to paper".
Finally, Serrat emphasized the importance of his discussion with the doctor: "In our discussion, which I wanted to put at the end because after this I couldn't say much more, I wanted to make a comparative analysis between the world we were born into and the world we are going to leave behind".