photo: COMU Escaldes
PICK OF THE WEEK: Andorra (Pyrenees)
Main places:
Andorra la Vella, Escaldes-Engordany, San Julia de Loria, La Massana, Ordino, Encamp, Canillo, Pas de la Casa
This Wednesday at 9.30pm, the Teatre Comunal is showing the award-winning Turkish film Mustang!) And then finally there’s art. At the moment we have a choice of eight exhibitions ranging from individualistic, handcrafted jewellery at La Llacuna, through street art by three internationally known Spanish street artists at the Caldea, historic photos from the past century at the CAEE showing Escaldes and Engordany before they became hyphenated as the country’s seventh parish, to an exhibition of iconic robots from the world of sci-fi organised by the government at their new exhibition hall, ARTALROC. And then we now have the added treat of Cinema Direct showing opera and ballet from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden at the Cinemas Illa Carlemany.
So why so culturally active? I put it down to the way the country developed. From the Middle Ages, Andorra was divided into six parishes. (Today we have a seventh, Escaldes-Engordany.) But, unlike parishes in other countries, Andorra’s wielded real power. They ran their own schools and maintained their own roads. To this day they each have their own militia, the Sometent, to be called out mainly in time of fire or flood. I like to compare the parishes to the four countries of the United Kingdom – only smaller. For with that comes a similar rivalry. Only, instead of it being fought out on the Rugby pitch, it is usually on display in the streets, seeing which parish can, for example, throw the most lavish or unusual festival for Three Kings or Carnival.
To help the International community in Andorra to keep up with all these events, I send out a free, weekly, English-language Cultural Events mailing. (The mailing is also distributed by the International Club of Andorra to its members.) My plan in this blog is to make a weekly selection of a few events that have particularly caught my eye and share them with you.
PICK OF THE WEEK through to Sunday, 27th November.
MUSIC
We have seven possible events and for me these two, included in date order, are the most alluring.
Friday, 25th November at 9.30pm at the National Auditorium, Ordino (Tickets 10€ adults and 5€ children from the National or Ordino Tourist Offices or at the door.) The 2016 Solidarity Tour of the Malagasy Gospel. This children’s choir from the most disadvantaged south of Madagascar sings with wide smiles and shining eyes in support of children’s rights. It is the first concert of their Iberian tour which includes Barcelona, Madrid, Ibiza and Mallorca. Apart from the music I am particularly fond of the auditorium with its exotic backdrop of golden, humanized musical notes on a huge piece of grey slate. The building originated as a tobacco barn belonging to Andorra’s aristocratic family, the Areny-Plandolits. In the 50s it was turned into a natural history museum and today it is the National Auditorium although the country has at least three other concert halls some considerably larger.
Saturday, 26th November at 5pm in the Romanesque church of Sant Joan de Caselles, Canillo. (Free but space is limited so booking essential at Canillo Library: tel 753 623 or email [email protected].) Cambra Romànica: The final concert in Canillo’s new initiative Cycle of chamber music which has taken place over the past two months in some of the parish’s cluster of charming 12th century churches. This concert is a double delight as the duo: J. Albelda and N. Licciardi will be playing classical music in one of Andorra’s best loved Romanesque churches. Built between the 11th and 12th centuries, Sant Joan de Caselles has an interior framework of wood around the nave and a now faded but once impressive Christ in Majesty on the wall. Behind the altar grill there is a 16th century altarpiece of considerable artistic merit and at the back there is a wooden gallery. I remember once sitting up there, hardly daring to breathe for we, the International Singers, were the surprise guests at a wedding. As the bride and groom walked up the rough stone steps and into the church, we stood and gave full voice to Jay Althouse’s Gloria Deo. The young couple must have had quite a shock. Outside is a sheltering porch for mules or donkeys and to the side there is a necropolis.
DANCE
On Saturday, 26th November at 10pm and Sunday, 27th November at 6pm in the Encamp Sports and Cultural Complex (Tickets 5€. Tickets are numbered and can be purchased through www.morabanc.ad/entrades or the Department of Culture in the Encamp Comú or the tourist offices of Encamp and Pas de la Casa.) Traces by Esbart Sant Romà d’Encamp folkdance group. One of the country’s top folk dance groups, their show consists of six pieces of which three are new creations. The story unfolds through solos, duets and group performances each delineated through the individual style of their choreographer. The hour-long spectacle will be danced by the Corps de dance and the Sant Roma’s Youth and Children’s sections. In the new piece, Traces, the performers interpret the dance in a percussionist, ‘touch stick’ style, orchestrated by the Andorran musician, Lluís Cartes.
Or if you wish to create your own entertainment why not go along on Saturday, 26th November at 11pm to the Prat del Roure, Escaldes-Engordany. (7€ – free to members of the Association Balland) and join the locals for An evening of ballroom dancing to live music from the Cafè Trio.
I’ll be with you again next week.
Culturally yours,
Clare.
If you want to learn more in depth about Andorra try reading “Andorra Revealed”.
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Look for about the author of the blog Clare Allcard
See also Andorra travel guide
See also Pyrenees travel guide
See also France travel guide
See also Spain travel guide
