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."